© Troy Taormina-USA TODAY Sports
It was a fitting way to end an ugly game.
Down two points with six seconds remaining, Warriors guard Stephen Curry advanced the ball to Draymond Green, who inexplicably fumbled the ball. Rockets guard Eric Gordon recovered it, made two clutch free throws, and Houston won its second straight game in the Western Conference Finals, extending its lead to 3-2.
Houston, 98, Golden State, 94.
No series of plays encapsulated this gritty contest more than two consecutive possessions in the final 2:30. The Warriors offense stagnated, forcing Kevin Durant to force up a contested shot, but he fumbled the ball going into his release for a shot clock violation. On the other end, Houston did the same thing, leaving Chris Paul to force up a runner with the clock running down — another violation.
This matchup featured the two best offenses in the NBA this season. This particular playoff matchup has featured long droughts and series of sloppy play.
For the past two games, this has been more of a boxing match than a dance recital.
In a tightly contested game, the Rockets made a couple more plays in the final minutes. Gordon made a three to put Houston up four, and Green responded with another three. The Warriors got a stop. Green found Quinn Cook — yes, the point guard who played stints in the G-League— and missed a wide-open three to put them up two points.
The Warriors got a stop, but they fumbled their way to another loss.
The Warriors started the game throwing the ball away and struggling to find an offensive rhythm. They scored only 17 first quarter points after scoring 12 fourth quarter points in a three-point loss in Game 4. They were 0-7 from three-point range with seven turnovers in the first quarter — and they trailed by three points. Kevin Durant scored 11 points in the first period to keep it close.
Houston wasn’t clicking, either. James Harden had only four first quarter points and struggled connect from the perimeter, finishing with 19 points on 5-19 from the floor.
Houston’s supporting cast was there to pick up Harden’s slack. The Rockets played only seven guys, and they found production from the sharpshooting Gordon (24 points) and the versatile Clint Capela (12 points and 14 rebounds).
The Warriors responded in the second quarter, outscoring Houston by six points to tie the game at 45 apiece entering the second half. Periodic defensive breakdowns did not hurt Golden State, as Houston entered the half 6-24 from three-point range.
The Warriors entered the third quarter, the period in which they dominated all year long, both during the regular season and postseason, seemingly poised to make another run. But the quarter featured the same slugfest that the two previous quarters displayed. Klay Thompson, who was questionable for this game with a strained knee, started to get going, pouring in 10 of his 23 points in the quarter.
Golden State led by one point entering the fourth quarter, with neither team having played to their potential. While Houston struggled to get transition buckets — they scored only two fast break points all game — Golden State struggled to channel its free-flowing, readily passing offense that has brought the Warriors so much success. They fell victim to heavy isolation and carelessness with the ball, yielding 18 turnovers.
The Warriors’ season hinges on Game 6, which will be played in Oakland on Saturday.