Warriors, two-time defending champions, punched their ticket to the NBA’s final four for the fifth consecutive season.
Stephen Curry scored all 33 of his points in the second half as the Golden State Warriors shook off the absence of Kevin Durant to beat the Houston Rockets 118-113 and advance to the Western Conference finals.
The two-time defending champions punched their ticket to the NBA’s final four for the fifth consecutive season and eliminated the Rockets from the postseason for the fourth time in five years.
“We knew at some point we would have a chance to steal this game and we did,” said Curry, who played with a dislocated finger on his left hand.
The Warriors clinched the series in six games by reverting to their championship form pre-Durant, who was injured in game five.
Reigning NBA finals MVP Durant suffered a calf strain in the third quarter of game five. Golden State is hoping to get him back before the end of the playoffs.
“We miss our guy but we know he is going to be back,” said Curry of Durant. “This whole playoff run he has been the best player in the league and has carried us so the least we could do is have his back tonight and move on to the next round.
