After the first round, the regional semifinals will begin immediately.
On April 29, the series between the Warriors and Rockets began.
The Rockets were very unwilling to lose last season, so this season they have full confidence in defeating the Warriors.
However, the departure of Ariza from the Rockets had a great impact on them. After the season, they were only ranked fourth in the Western Conference. As a result, the Warriors and Rockets met early.
Historically, the Warriors were not in good shape before the start of this series. Both Curry and Thompson were injured in the first round. Although it was not serious, it definitely had an impact.
Fortunately, because Deng Fang was there, the Warriors went all out in the first round without slacking off and quickly defeated the Clippers. Neither Curry nor Clay was injured, and the Warriors players were not overly exhausted.
Again, the Rockets are indeed powerful and can beat the Warriors in terms of play style. However, if there are no injuries, the Rockets will not be able to beat the Warriors!
Deng Fang has proved this last season, and Deng Fang will prove it again this season.
Rockets starting lineup: PJ Tucker, Clint Capela, Chris Paul, James Harden, Eric Gordon.
Warriors starting lineup: Draymond Green, Kevin Durant, Stephen Curry, Andre Yingodala, Clay Thompson.
Austin Rivers missed the game due to illness, and the Warriors changed their lineup, with the starting lineup featuring a dead five.
After the opening, the Rockets' shooting percentage was very low. After the two teams tied at 6-6, the Rockets failed to make a shot in the next 4 minutes, and the Warriors gained a 16-9 advantage.
The Warriors suddenly fell into trouble after that, making consecutive mistakes and not scoring a point in 3 minutes. Harden hit a three-pointer and then made three free throws. The Rockets shot 8-0 and led 17-16.
The Rockets failed to score in the last 2 minutes and 11 seconds of this quarter. Curry and Durant hit three-pointers one after another. The Warriors shot 10-0 and ended the quarter 28-19.
In the first quarter, the Warriors shot 63.2% from the field and 2 of 4 from three-point range, while the Rockets made 5 of 21 from the field, a shooting percentage of only 23.8%, and 1 of 14 from three-point range. However, the Rockets made 8 of 8 free throws, 6 more than the Warriors.
Second-rate.
Despite such a poor shooting percentage in the first quarter, the Rockets were still able to compete with the Warriors, which doubled their confidence.
In the second quarter, the Rockets' shooting percentage increased and they gradually recovered the score. With 1 minute and 56 seconds left in this quarter, the Rockets trailed 44-53. Then the Rockets suddenly broke out from the outside and hit three consecutive three-pointers, evening the score in one fell swoop.
The two sides ended the first half 53-53.
The Warriors shot 59% in the first half and made 5 of 9 three-pointers, but made 13 turnovers and made 2 of 4 free throws.
The Rockets' shooting percentage improved from the first quarter, reaching 40%. They made 9 of 28 three-pointers and scored 12 points on 13 free throws. Harden scored 16 points on 4 of 14 shots and Gordon had 14 points.
The Rockets scored 4 points in a row to start the third quarter and led 57-53, but then they missed consecutive shots. Thompson scored 5 points in a row and the Warriors regained the lead.
With 5 minutes and 20 seconds left in this quarter, Capela succeeded in an alley-oop dunk. This was his first sports game score. The Rockets only trailed 63-66. Durant made a strong effort in the last 2 minutes and 20 seconds of this quarter.
After scoring 8 points in a while, the Warriors ended the first three quarters 83-76.
The shooting percentages of both teams dropped in the fourth quarter, and the Warriors failed to solve the problem of too many turnovers. Curry committed 5 fouls early and went to the sidelines to rest for a while. The Rockets seized the opportunity and continued to counterattack.
In the middle of the quarter, Nene succeeded in hitting the basket and tied the score at 89-89. Durant caused two consecutive fouls and made three free throws, and the Warriors regained the lead.
The two teams fought hard until the last minute. With 40.4 seconds left in the game, Harden grabbed the rebound and launched an attack on his own. After scoring 3 points with consecutive free throws, the Rockets only trailed 98-100.
Curry hit a key three-pointer, and Harden also quickly scored 3 points. The Rockets were only 3 points behind, but there were only 21.3 seconds left.
Then Paul stole the ball when the Warriors were serving, and the Rockets had a chance to equalize. Unfortunately, Harden missed a three-pointer, and Paul grabbed an offensive rebound. Unfortunately, Gordon went out of bounds, and the Rockets had to foul.
Paul received his second technical foul of the game while protesting and was ejected. Curry made a free throw and the Warriors sealed the victory.
In the end, the Warriors at home defeated the Rockets 104-100 after four quarters. In this way, the Warriors led 1-0 with a total score.
For the Rockets, Harden made 13 of 14 free throws and scored 35 points, 6 assists, 4 rebounds and 3 steals. Gordon scored 4 three-pointers, 27 points, 4 rebounds and 2 blocks. Paul had 17 points, 4 assists, 3 rebounds and 3 steals.
For the Warriors, Durant made 12 of 15 free throws with 35 points, 5 rebounds and 3 assists, Curry scored 3 three-pointers, 18 points, 7 rebounds and 4 assists, Green had 14 points, 9 rebounds and 9 assists, Ying Guodala had 14 points and 4 rebounds, and Thompson
13 points, 4 rebounds, 3 assists and 2 steals.
…
On May 1, Houston visited Oakland for Game 2 of the Western Conference semifinals against the Golden State Warriors.
Rockets starting lineup: Eric Gordon, PJ Tucker, Capela, Harden, Paul.
After the opening, the Rockets made three consecutive turnovers, and they made four turnovers in the first five attacks.
How could the Warriors miss such an opportunity? They started with a wave of 8-2. The Rockets finally chased the score to 8-12, but then they made mistakes again and again. The Warriors launched a wave of 10-0 and widened the gap to 22-8.
It took 7 minutes and 40 seconds for the Rockets to score in double figures in the first quarter. Harden was hit in the eye and returned to the locker room for treatment. He only played 6 minutes in this quarter. Fortunately, Rivers and Gerald Green were there in this quarter.
Each hit a three-pointer in the last 32 seconds of the quarter, and the Rockets only trailed 20-29.
The Rockets made as many as 9 turnovers in the first quarter, and the team shot only 29.4% from the field and 5 of 15 three-pointers. The Warriors' shooting rate was not high, at 40.7%, and they made 3 of 11 three-pointers.
Harden returned to the court in the second quarter, but his eyes were red and he obviously felt uncomfortable. The Rockets once chased the score to 31-34, but only made one shot in the next 3 minutes. The Warriors once again widened the gap to 44-33. Both sides
The gap once reached 14 points. Harden scored 5 points in a row in the last 34.5 seconds of this quarter, and the Rockets chased the score to 49-58.
The Rockets shot 44.7% in the first half and made 10 of 22 three-pointers. Harden scored 12 points and Rivers 11 points.
The Warriors shot 46.2% from the field and made 4 of 16 three-pointers. Four players on the team have scored in double figures, including Thompson with 13 points, Durant with 12 points, and Curry and Ying Guodala with 10 points each.
With 4 minutes and 15 seconds left in the third quarter, Thompson hit a three-pointer and the Warriors led by 15 points, 82-67.
The Warriors had trouble with their offense after that. They failed to hit any more shots in this quarter and did not even have a chance to make free throws. The Rockets only made one shot during this period, but they had many free throw opportunities. At the end of this quarter, Harden
A foul was caused outside the three-point line and three free throws were made. The Rockets finished 8-0 and only trailed 75-82.
The Rockets chased the score to 80-84 shortly after the start of the fourth quarter. For the Rockets, this was already a last-ditch battle. If they return to Houston 0-2, it would be a huge blow.
Harden suffered from eye discomfort but felt good. He hit a three-pointer and scored 5 points in a row. The Rockets chased the score to 89-92.
Curry hit a three-pointer at a critical moment, Ying Guodala made an alley-oop layup, and the Warriors went on a 9-0 run to widen the gap to 102-90.
The Rockets failed to make a field goal for more than 3 minutes, and Harden's layup came with 3 minutes and 52 seconds left in the game.
The Rockets also switched to a smaller lineup and prepared to take advantage of the situation, but unfortunately Gordon made another mistake.
In the last 2 minutes, the Rockets frequently caused fouls and used free throws to chase points. With 1 minute and 20 seconds left in the game, Tucker made two free throws to tie the score to 102-108. The Rockets had a good opportunity to continue to narrow the gap, but it was a pity that Paul made a three-pointer.
Missed.
Curry made two free throws, and the Warriors led by 8 points. The Rockets did not give up in the last 10 seconds, scoring consecutively, chasing the score to 109-113, but with only 3 seconds left, the Rockets were unable to make a comeback and fell short.
After the whole game, the Rockets lost to the Warriors 109-115, trailing 0-2 with a total score.
Durant continued his stable performance in this campaign. He made 9 of 22 shots and scored 29 points, 5 rebounds and 4 assists. He once again contributed to the Warriors' victory.
For the Warriors, in addition to Durant, Ying Guodala scored 16 points, 5 rebounds and 4 assists, Draymond Green had 15 points, 12 rebounds, 7 assists and 2 steals, Clay had 21 points, 5 rebounds, 2 assists and 3 steals, and Curry had 20 points and 3 steals.
Rebounds, 5 assists and 2 steals.
For the Rockets, Harden scored 29 points, 7 rebounds and 4 assists, Paul scored 18 points, 7 rebounds, 6 assists and 3 steals, Tucker had 13 points and 10 rebounds, Gordon had 15 points, Capela had 14 points, 10 rebounds and 2 blocks, River Jr.
