Golden State have taken the first game of the Western Conference Finals, taking down the Rockets in a fast-paced game which both team led multiple times.
The Rockets actually led by 16-points early, before the Warriors turned things around to lead into the fourth-quarter. The Rockets managed to get on level terms before the Warriors were able to edge ahead.
NBA MVP Stephen Curry shot 34 points off 13-22 shooting including 6 three pointers, while Rockets runner-up MVP James Harden shot 28 points off 11-20 shooting. Both performed at the highest level, with Curry nailing huge shots, and Harden pushing offensively at every opportunity.
The story of the night was Dwight Howard’s absence, suffering an injury to his knee that left him playing just 26 minutes. Howard iced the knee on the bench, with no indication yet of how that will affect him in the series.
The Rockets turned the ball over 15 times, and made crucial mistakes late in the final minutes of the game. Both teams shot poorly at the line, making just over 60 per cent of their free throws.
The series stays at Golden State for Game 2 before moving down to Houston for Games 3 and 4.