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 champion punched its ticket to the NBA’s final four for the fifth consecutive season and eliminated the Rockets from the postseason for the second-straight year.
“We knew at some point we would have a chance to steal this game and we did,” Curry said.
The Warriors clinched the series in six games by reverting to their championship form pre-Durant.
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.”
Durant uncertain
Durant’s status is uncertain for game one of the Western Conference finals On Tuesday against either the Portland Trail Blazers or the Denver Nuggets.
The result: Western Conference: Golden State Warriors 118 (Stephen Curry 33, Draymond Green 10) bt Houston Rockets 113 (James Harden 35, Chris Paul 11). (Golden State wins series 4-2).