HOUSTON — James Harden scored 35 points, including the game-winner with 2.7 seconds left, and Houston took advantage of Stephen Curry’s absence to get a 97-96 victory over Golden State in Game 3 of their first-round playoff series on Thursday
HOUSTON — James Harden scored 35 points, including the game-winner with 2.7 seconds left, and Houston took advantage of Stephen Curry’s absence to get a 97-96 victory over Golden State in Game 3 of their first-round playoff series on Thursday night.
The victory cuts Houston’s deficit to 2-1 in the best-of-seven series. Game 4 is Sunday in Houston.
“We should actually play better,” Golden State head coach Steve Kerr said. “We made too many mistakes.
“Whether Steph’s here or not, we should perform at a high level.”
Shaun Livingston stole a pass from Trevor Ariza and Ian Clark’s layup put Golden State up by one with 10.6 seconds left. Harden then took it to the other end and stepped back for the jump shot to win it.
Golden State had a chance to win it after that, but Draymond Green dribbled the inbounds pass off his foot and out of bounds.
Marreese Speights came off the bench to lead the Warriors with 22 points and Klay Thompson had 17.
Dwight Howard added 13 points, 13 rebounds and had two blocks for Houston.
THUNDER 131, MAVERICKS 102
DALLAS (AP) — Kevin Durant bounced back from the worst shooting game of his playoff career with 34 points and Oklahoma City retook control of its first-round series.
Durant had seven field goals midway through the second quarter on nine shots after he needed 33 to get there in a Game 2 loss that followed a 38-point win in the opener.
The 2014 MVP scored 20 points in the first half, when the Thunder led by as many as 19 points on their way to a 2-1 lead in the best-of-seven series.
Game 4 is Saturday night in Dallas.
Dirk Nowitzki played despite a right knee bruise and scored 16 points for the Mavericks, who missed 10 of their first 12 shots from 3-point range.
Russell Westbrook scored 20 of his 26 points in the second half and had 15 assists.
RAPTORS 101, PACERS 85
INDIANAPOLIS (AP) — DeMar DeRozan rebounded from his postseason shooting slump, and he and Kyle Lowry scored 21 points for Toronto.
The Raptors lead the best-of-seven first-round series 2-1 and have reclaimed the home-court advantage they squandered by losing the series opener last weekend.
Indiana was led by Paul George, who had 25 points, 10 rebounds and six assists. Rookie Myles Turner scored 11 of 17 points in the second half.
Game 4 is Saturday night in Indianapolis.
