With a tornado looming outside of the Toyota Center, the Houston Rockets were able to bring the thunder inside and avoid being eliminated at home in Game 4 of the Western Conference Finals. It was raining buckets for both the Rockets and the Golden State Warriors, but a 45-point first quarter was all the Rockets needed to get their first win of the season against the Warriors.
James Harden made seven of his eleven shots from three-point range and finished with 45 points in the shootout. Six players for each side finished with double figures as the Rockets pulled out the 128-115 victory. For the first time this series, the Rockets showed signs of strong team basketball. Josh Smith provided a much-needed spark from the get-go and finished with 20 points, making three of his four three-pointers. Trevor Ariza also had a strong game and used his veteran playoff experience to help the Rockets inch back in the series.
Game 4 was incredibly physical, starting with a play in which Stephen Curry leaped over the back of Ariza and landed squarely on his upper torso, with his head slamming the hardwood. Curry returned to the game, which was a great sign for a Warriors team that is looking to go to its first Finals appearance since 1975.
Moving forward, the health of Curry will take center stage as the series moves to Oakland for Game 5. It was certainly not necessary for the league's MVP to finish out Game 4, but made sense against a Rockets team that is now 4-0 in elimination games in the 2015 NBA Playoffs. Steve Kerr mentioned the aura in the Toyota Center had shifted after the Rockets got off to such a hot start in Game 4 and the one thing his team will look to avoid is having that aura travel into Oracle Arena.
The 128-115 offensive onslaught was just the third loss for the Warriors in this postseason. While the odds of coming back from down 3-0 and winning the series are incredibly slim, the Rockets are not fazed by the fact that 116 other teams have failed to do so. After being down 3-1 against the Los Angeles Clippers and looking downright dismal throughout the series, the Rockets snagged a win on their home floor in Game 5, which ultimately led to a victory in Game 6 and, again, in Game 7 on their home court.
The playoff experience for the Rockets starts with head coach Kevin McHale and trickles down through Trevor Ariza, Jason Terry, and Corey Brewer, each of whom have won at least one NBA Title. Several other players have played on the big stage, including Harden and Dwight Howard, who have each lost one NBA Finals. Even with injuries to two key players-including their starting point guard- the Rockets have played with heart in elimination games. They have looked horrendous at times throughout the playoffs but, with their backs against the walls, they will try to go into Golden State and scrap out another win in Game 5 of the Western Conference Finals.
Stephen Curry looked to be healthy upon returning in Game 4 and finished with 23 points over 30 minutes on the floor. But for the Warriors to close out the series and move on to the Finals, they will need the best of team basketball that they have played all season. A player such as Draymond Green, who had a monster Game 4 before fouling out (21 points, 15 rebounds, 5 blocks), will play a large role alongside Andrew Bogut, who has visibly frustrated Dwight Howard.
The Splash Bros and Co. have lost just three games at Oracle Arena all season and will look to avoid a fourth loss and subsequent trip back to Houston for Game 6.