The Golden State Warriors enter sudden death basketball in Game 6 of their Western Conference finals series against the defensively brilliant Houston Rockets, who will be without Chris Paul for their trip to Oakland. Join The Roar for live scores and coverage of the match from 11am (AEST).
Houston has held the Warriors to under 100 points in back-to-back games now, winning one on the road and then taking Game 5 by nothing back at home.
The Warriors haven’t been held to under 100 in back-to-back games for more than two seasons, so for the same team to do it in two straight games says a lot about the commitment and dedication of the Rockets, who have always been offence first.
The offence-first approach works, but can only do the job so many times against a like the Warriors, who are one of the best outfits basketball has ever seen.
While their defence has been fantastic, it’s been made possible by guard Chris Paul leading the way, a heavy inside presence and the Warriors lack of Andre Iguodala who has been out with injury for the last two matches of the series.
Iguodala gives the Warriors an extra option on the floor, freeing up space for shooters like Steph Curry, Kevin Durant and Klay Thompson, all of whom tended to struggle in Game 4 and 5 as the Warriors first squandered home court advantage and then put themselves in a sudden death situation.
To go with the likely return of Iguodala, Paul will miss Game 6 and potentially Game 7 with a hamstring strain.
It’s going to lump the pressure on James Harden, who has had a good series, but was extremely quiet last time out at home as he finished with 19 points on 5 of 21 shooting.
Those numbers are horrendous, and unless he gets other contributions from players like Trevor Ariza and Clint Capela, Harden is going to need to at least match the offensive output provided by Curry, Thompson and Durant, which has the potential ability of forcing him to overplay his hand.
That’s the last thing Houston want in this one, yet, they may have no other option but to run all their offence through Harden in an attempt to win the series without having to enter a pressure cooker in Game 7.
Prediction
Back at home, with Chris Paul out, the Warriors should be too strong for the Rockets and force a Game 7 in this see-sawing, epic of a conference finals series.
Warriors by 9.
Be sure to join The Roar for live coverage of the match from 11am (AEST) and don’t forget to add a comment in the section below.
mushi
Roar Guru
And that the Warriors trot out 4 guys with all NBA selections... Anyone calling a 7 game series loss to this Warriors team an embarrasment should be forcibly denied access to basketball. That they've made the warriors work for this, and heck they've still got a shot to win it in Houston, is amazing.
Scott Pryde
Expert
Thanks for joining me today for Game 6 of this series. Hopefully you enjoyed the call. I'll be back tomorrow morning at 10:30am (AEST) for Game 7 in the Boston-Cleveland series. Bye for now.
Scott Pryde
Expert
Thoughts on the game Roarers?
Scott Pryde
Expert
Have to remember there was no Chris Paul today. He makes a huge difference.
Blake Standfield
Roar Guru
Haha 25 points in the second half! There’s no coming back from that embarrassing performance with a choking superstar. Warriors just won the Championship.
Scott Pryde
Expert
FULLTIME Thankfully, the end of this one came pretty quick and painlessly. What an incredible comeback from the Golden State Warriors. They were blown out of the water in the first quarter, down 39-22, but since, have outscored the Rockets 93-47. That was just unbelievable. The second half alone only saw the Rockets put up 25 across the two quarter. Warriors - 115 Rockets - 86
Scott Pryde
Expert
Q4 2' West a turnover, Green a three, the Warriors another turnover and then a foul. From the sideball it's Mbah a Moute missing. This will be the first time since 1979 both conference finals have gone to Game 7. Warriors - 111 Rockets - 86
Scott Pryde
Expert
Q4 3' More buckets for the Warriors here. Warriors - 111 Rockets - 83
Scott Pryde
Expert
Q4 4' Looks like the Rockets have finally taken most of their starters out here. We are into garbage time for the final couple of minutes in this one and both the west and eastern conference finals are going to Game 7. Warriors - 106 Rockets - 81
Scott Pryde
Expert
Q4 4' Timeout Houston. Warriors - 106 Rockets - 81
Scott Pryde
Expert
Q4 4' Jump ball here as Harden is locked up. The Warriors win the tip and Thompson then drains a three. How do you stop the Warriors shooting like this? Warriors - 106 Rockets - 81
Scott Pryde
Expert
Q4 4' The Warriors through Thompson and Durant who then kicks to the corner for Curry. The three misses, but Bell is there for the put back jam. Time to get the big guns out of the game here. You are only risking an injury. Warriors - 103 Rockets - 81
Scott Pryde
Expert
Q4 5' Capela with a jam now off a pass from Harden, before Curry goes up the floor, finds Young, then he drops it back over his head to Young who misses the three. Good ball movement this time, but Anderson misses the three. Warriors - 101 Rockets - 81
Scott Pryde
Expert
Q4 6' Houston have scored just 40 points in the last 30 minutes of basketball. Durant makes both. Warriors - 101 Rockets - 79
Scott Pryde
Expert
Q4 6' The Warriors through Durant here and he drives through the lane, being fouled on his way. The shot misses, but he will go to the free throw line. Warriors - 99 Rockets - 79
Scott Pryde
Expert
Q4 6' Ariza rejected over the baseline now. From the inbound it's Ariza to Anderson and he misses from the top of the key. Warriors - 99 Rockets - 79
Scott Pryde
Expert
Q4 7' Curry is just too good. Crossover past Johnson and then a lay up off the window. Houston with another miss, then it's Durant to Thompson and he hits a three. Houston might as well start resting up for Game 7. Warriors - 99 Rockets - 79
Scott Pryde
Expert
Q4 7' Timeout Warriors. Warriors - 94 Rockets - 79
Scott Pryde
Expert
Q4 7' Mbah a Moute with a miss on the drive now before Curry turns it over. Ariza to Gordon and he pulls the trigger on a wide open three, but that's no good. Time to get James Harden back in right about now. Warriors - 94 Rockets - 79
Scott Pryde
Expert
Q4 8' Livingston missed through some tough defence, then there is a foul called as Houston track it up the court towards halfway. Warriors - 94 Rockets - 79