Chris Paul scored a game-high 33 points on 50% shooting, while James Harden had two MVP moments in the final 80 seconds as the Rockets (32-12) completed a stirring fourth-quarter comeback Saturday to defeat the defending champion Golden State Warriors, 116-108.
The impressive victory clinches the season series and potential tiebreaker for Houston with two wins in three games between the two teams. The Rockets have now won seven of their past 10 games coming off the five-game losing streak in late December.
My postgame recap examines all the key angles, headlined by the importance of the Rockets’ resiliency and why their confidence against the Warriors could pay dividends in May and June.
Other angles discussed include how both star Paul and Harden (22 points, 8 assists) were at their best against elite competition, even with the latter only 20 days removed from a Grade 2 hamstring strain; the importance of veteran role players like P.J. Tucker (12 points, 7 rebounds), Luc Mbah a Moute (14 points, 4-of-6 FG), and Ryan Anderson (13 rebounds in 30 minutes) in the team’s collective toughness; and why Clint Capela (18 points, 7-of-12 FG) playing 30 minutes and finishing at the rim vs. Golden State’s length is the latest positive step in his development. Tune in: