FRED VanVleet scored 29 points, Alperen Sengun produced a double-double and the Houston Rockets completed a stunning 115-107 victory over the Golden State Warriors on Friday in San Francisco, forcing a decisive Game 7 of their Western Conference first-round series.
The Rockets, who extended the series to a sixth game with a 131-116 home win on Wednesday, seized control in the fourth quarter this time and will host Game 7 on Sunday.
Houston stayed alive by clamping down defensively in the final period. VanVleet also keyed an offensive surge with a four-point play that opened the frame and extended the Rockets’ lead to 90-84.
The Warriors, after shooting 50% from the field and drilling seven 3-pointers in their 36-point third quarter, missed 13 consecutive shots in the fourth as the Rockets turned a 12-0 run into a 106-89 lead.
Sengun recorded a steal on Jimmy Butler III and fed VanVleet for a 3-pointer early in the rally.
“I think people, especially veterans, know the urgency of the playoffs, and it gets monotonous at times through the regular season,” Rockets coach Ime Udoka said while discussing VanVleet.
Sengun posted 21 points and 14 rebounds while adding six assists and three steals. VanVleet also recorded eight rebounds and eight assists while making 6 of 9 from 3-point range and all nine free-throw attempts.
Amen Thompson added 14 points, seven rebounds and three steals, while Steven Adams totaled 17 points and three blocks off the bench. Houston finished 33 of 46 (71.7%) at the free-throw line.
Stephen Curry led the Warriors with 29 points, going 6 of 16 on 3-point tries, while Butler added 27 points, nine rebounds and eight assists. However, Golden State shot just 41.1% from the field and sank only 15 of 49 3-point attempts (30.6%).
The opening period featured 10 lead changes, two ties and an early flagrant foul by Draymond Green. Sengun and VanVleet combined for 16 points in the first quarter, while Houston committed six turnovers in the period but took a 25-21 lead into the second. — Reuters
