I have returned from last night’s mournful saunter through the woods, because there’s yet another Game 7 with a trip to the NBA Finals on the line. It’s down at the Toyota Center in Houston as the Rockets host the Warriors. Chris Paul has been ruled out for tonight, dealing an unfortunate blow to the home team, whereas the Warriors continue to go on without the services of Andre Iguodala. Will we see another road team take the game? After last night, road teams are 27-104 in Game 7s, according to TNT’s Ernie Johnson, so the odds are against it, but of course, there’s no telling what’s about to transpire.
Chris Paul is one the most intense competitors I’ve ever been around. It must be killing him that he can’t play tonight. I really wish both teams were at full strength for Game 7. Injuries are the worst.
— Alex Kennedy (@AlexKennedyNBA) May 29, 2018
It really, really sucks that Chris Paul has to miss the game tonight, especially since he’s been instrumental in getting them here, shedding some of his reputation as a playoff choker in the process.
9:01 pm – For the last time this season, because lousy ESPN gets the Finals, we’re welcomed into a basketball game by Marv Albert, who will narrate the action tonight with Chris Webber and Reggie Miller.
9:02 – The Warriors win the opening tip, and another Game 7 is underway. By the end of the night, one of these teams will be on their way to the Finals to face the Cavs.
9:04 – A pair of James Harden free throws provides the first points of the ballgame, putting the Rockets ahead, 2-0.
9:07 – Kevin Durant puts the Warriors on the board with two free throws, and they trail, 4-2. The Warriors are already in the penalty less than two minutes into the game, including two early fouls on Klay Thompson, who remains in the game. and Draymond Green has been observed sharing a heated exchange with Kevin Durant.
9:10 – James Harden knocks down a three and he’s fouled….by Klay Thompson. That’s three on Klay, and he saunters off to the bench. Shaun Livingston will replace him. Meanwhile, Harden misses the free throw, and the Rockets lead, 10-9, in a game that’s already a gigantic mess.
#MVP! 😤 pic.twitter.com/gr1yeD1o11
— Houston Rockets (@HoustonRockets) May 29, 2018
9:13 – We’re here at our first time out with the score Houston 15, Golden State 9 with 6:30 left in the first quarter. Both teams have been loose with the ball, combining for seven turnovers already, and Klay Thompson has been exiled to the bench with those three fouls. This one seems like it’s going to be wild.
Klay Thompson’s probably the player the Warriors should be worried about playing in foul trouble the least. Almost never even nears 4 fouls in a game. Assume Kerr brings him back early in second quarter.
— Anthony Slater (@anthonyVslater) May 29, 2018
9:17 – The Warriors, already in the penalty, intentionally foul lousy free throw shooter Clint Capela to send him to the line. he misses them both.
Well, you’re already in the bonus, might as well Hack it, I guess. You’re down to just 3 All-Stars after all.
— Hardwood Paroxysm (@HPbasketball) May 29, 2018
9:20 – Kevin Durant knocks a three, and we’ll head into a time out with the score Houston 18, Golden State 14 with 4:03 left in the opening quarter.
KD drops in the trey 💦
📺 @NBAonTNT pic.twitter.com/YI35lmHS8m
— Golden State Warriors (@warriors) May 29, 2018
That last stretch felt like a real missed opportunity for the Rockets. They missed seven straight shots with the score 15-9, plus two free throws. That was a chance to really blow this game open early. Instead, it’s 18-14 Houston.
— Tim Bontemps (@TimBontemps) May 29, 2018
Draymond is all over Jordan Bell about blowing rotations
— Marcus Thompson (@ThompsonScribe) May 29, 2018
Houston’s getting a ton of open 3 looks. Warriors defense has been legit bad, but this is what happened in Game 6, too, and Houston ran out of steam when the adrenaline wore off.
— Hardwood Paroxysm (@HPbasketball) May 29, 2018
9:29 – Between a pair of James Harden free throws, we have a time out with the score Houston 23, Golden State 17 with 1:30 left in the first quarter. This one continues to be weird with the likes of Ryan Anderson and Joe Johnson, two players that have been chained to the Rockets bench throughout the playoffs, making appearances so far.
Houston’s played so well and they’re only up six, it’s just amazing how no matter how far it feels like you’re ahead of Golden State you turn around and the tail fin is chasing your boat.
— Hardwood Paroxysm (@HPbasketball) May 29, 2018
9:33 – Here at the end of the third quarter, our score’s Houston 24, Golden State 19. James Harden has 14 already to lead the Rockets, while Kevin Durant has 8 for the Warriors. That was not a great quarter of basketball, with the two teams combining for 11 turnovers, and each shot under 40%. In other words, it’s a standard yucky Game 7.
A very Game 7 kind of first quarter: The NBA’s best two offensive teams combine for 43 points (23-19 Houston). Rockets shooting 31.8% (4 of 11 on threes), Warriors 35% (2 of 10 on threes).
— Sam Amick (@sam_amick) May 29, 2018
Stephen Curry is headed to the locker room and the training staff is following.
— Chris Haynes (@ChrisBHaynes) May 29, 2018
9:37 – We’re here at the start of the second quarter, and Klay Thompson is out there with his three fouls. He immediately heads to the hoop for a layup that gets goaltended, and the Warriors trail, 24-21.
Stephen Curry returns to the bench. Doesn’t appear to have suffered an injury.
— Chris Haynes (@ChrisBHaynes) May 29, 2018
Wow. That goaltending call was so dubious they still have not put it on the scoreboard.
— Jonathan Feigen (@Jonathan_Feigen) May 29, 2018
9:41 – James Harden lobs one up to Clint Capela who throws it down, and the Toyota Center crowd is loud with the score Houston 34, Golden State 23 with 8:37 left in the first half. The Rockets are outworking the Warriors, fighting for offensive rebounds and second chance points to build their lead.
IT’S LIT IN @ToyotaCenter! 🚀 pic.twitter.com/JWhOYQvpPG
— Houston Rockets (@HoustonRockets) May 29, 2018
Rockets winning nearly all the hustle plays, 50/50 balls, etc. Lead by 11. Capela, Tucker energy level off the charts.
— Jonathan Feigen (@Jonathan_Feigen) May 29, 2018
The Rockets are playing like nothing matters more than the next play, and the Warriors are playing like it’s January against Charlotte.
— Dan Devine (@YourManDevine) May 29, 2018
9:48 – Kevin Durant nails a three, but the Warriors remain down double digits with the score Houston 44, Golden State 33 with 5:50 left until halftime.
The Warriors are playing like total garbage and are still only down by 11, one run away because the talent is just omnipresent.
— Hardwood Paroxysm (@HPbasketball) May 29, 2018
9:55 – Klay Thompson surprisingly misses two free throws, but the Warriors get the offensive rebound, only to have a pass stolen by James Harden, who takes it all the way down the court for a dunk! It looks like he also lost a contact lens in the process, so we’ll have a time out with the score Houston 48, Golden State 33 with 4:53 left until halftime.
CLEARED FOR TAKEOFF 🚀#MVP pic.twitter.com/ZgJlckv1yb
— Houston Rockets (@HoustonRockets) May 29, 2018
Draymond Green furious with Kevin Durant, urging him to come to the ball. It’s the second time he’s got on Durant about that tonight.
— Chris Haynes (@ChrisBHaynes) May 29, 2018
Draymond is LIVID going into the timeout. He’s just a volcano right now. Like, he’s always like that, but especially so.
— Hardwood Paroxysm (@HPbasketball) May 29, 2018
Draymond Green just screaming after that turnover. Tosses an absolute fit after the Harden dunk.
— Jonathan Feigen (@Jonathan_Feigen) May 29, 2018
10:03 – The first half comes to an end with Eric Gordon going the length of the court for a layup to beat the buzzer, and we’ll head into the break with the score Houston 54, Golden State 43.
.@TheofficialEG10 at the buzzer!! 🚨 pic.twitter.com/hOMcNil68y
— Houston Rockets (@HoustonRockets) May 29, 2018
James Harden has 16 points, 4 rebounds, 4 assists and 4 steals for the Rockets, but he’s shooting just 5-15. Eric Gordon has 14 after that buzzer beating layup, but the most impactful player for the Rockets has been Clint Capela, who has 14 points and 6 rebounds on 7-8 shooting.
Kevin Durant has 13 to lead the Warriors, and Klay Thompson has avoided further foul trouble to score 12.
The Rockets have been making all of the hustle plays, hauling in 11 offensive rebounds and coming up with ten steals. That’s the sort of stuff that gets you a win in a Game 7, but we’ll see if the Warriors come back with one of their patented third quarter supernovas.
Warriors: 3/8 on free throws, 10 turnovers, 11 offensive rebounds allowed, Gordon goes to coast to coast w/ less than 5 seconds left in a quarter for the second straight game. Absolutely embarrassing half. Rockets just want this game more right now, are playing smarter.
— Zach Lowe (@ZachLowe_NBA) May 29, 2018
Rockets just played an unbelievable half of ball. Physical. Hustling. Forcing a ton of tough choices when Warriors are on D. Golden State has to toughen up quite a bit to win this
— Chris Herring (@Herring_NBA) May 29, 2018
10:21 – James Harden gets to the hoop for a layup, and the Rockets score the first points of the second half to extend their lead to 56-43.
.@JHarden13 starts the second-half with the basket. pic.twitter.com/I2rxbE5Mmy
— Houston Rockets (@HoustonRockets) May 29, 2018
10:23 – Klay Thompson picks up foul number four. He’ll remain in the game.
10:27 – We’ve got a time out with the Warriors on a 10-4 run to make the score Houston 58, Golden State 53 with 7:20 left in the third. The Rockets are still playing hard, but they’re starting to look fatigued. Meanwhile, the Warriors are still a mess, but even their most garbage possessions end with someone sinking a shot.
The Rockets look like they went into the locker room, realized they were 24 minutes from the NBA Finals, and completely freaked out.
— Tim Bontemps (@TimBontemps) May 29, 2018
10:34 – Steph Curry cans a three from the corner, and it’s a one possession ballgame with the Rockets clinging to a 61-58 lead.
Steph 💦, and we got a 3-point game…
📺 @NBAonTNT pic.twitter.com/SLNLjYLjgJ
— Golden State Warriors (@warriors) May 29, 2018
10:36 – We’ve got a time out with the score still Houston 61, Golden State 58 with 4:34 left in the third quarter. The replay on that last Curry three revealed an egregious moving screen by Jordan Bell that wasn’t called.
10:40 – Kevin Durant puts in a three, and we’re tied up at 61 as Durant’s up to 19 points.
TIE GAME! pic.twitter.com/hU0U9D7GTb
— Golden State Warriors (@warriors) May 29, 2018
On the next possession, Steph Curry hits another three, and the Warriors take a 64-61 lead.
10:42 – James Harden puts in a pair of free throws. He’s up to 22 points, and the Rockets trail, 64-63.
Steph Curry answers on the other end with a layup, putting him at 16 points, and putting the Warriors ahead, 66-63.
10:43 – Curry knocks down another three, this time with help from a friendly rim, and the Warriors lead is 69-63.
Steph is ON FIRE! 🔥🔥🔥🔥
14 PTS in the 3rd quarter!#DubNation pic.twitter.com/1AmWTZyHsi
— NBA (@NBA) May 29, 2018
10:48 – We’re here at the end of the third quarter with the scoreboard reading Golden State 76, Houston 69.
James Harden has 22 points, 5 rebounds and 5 assists for the Rockets, and Kevin Durant’s 23 leads the Warriors, with Steph Curry right behind him with 22 points, 8 rebounds and 8 assists.
The Rockets seem completely dismantled at the moment, and the Warriors are in total control. We’re twelve minutes away from Chapter 4 of the Warriors/Cavaliers Finals.
Warriors/Cavs Final again is trash
— Nate Jones (@JonesOnTheNBA) May 29, 2018
Just as a public service reminder, the Warriors did all that with Klay Thompson on the bench. Steph and KD went off and the Rockets shot a miserable 0-for-14 from deep in the quarter. Game flipped just like that. #WesternConferenceFinals
— Sekou Smith (@SekouSmithNBA) May 29, 2018
The Rockets are 6-of-37 from 3. I mean, that’s like once or twice-a-season-level bad.
— Zach Lowe (@ZachLowe_NBA) May 29, 2018
10:52 – Klay Thompson leads off the fourth with a long two pointer with a foot on the line, and the Warriors lead is 78-69 as we head down the stretch.
10:56 – We’ve got a time out with the score Golden State 83, Houston 73 with 8:27 remaining. The Rockets have missed 25, count ’em, twenty five straight three pointers. It’s time to resign yourself to a fourth straight Warriors/Cavs Finals that nobody outside of Northern Ohio or San Francisco wants to see.
Missing 25 3s in a row. That just doesn’t seem possible, even for a high school team. I mean, you’d think one would accidentally bounce in at least.
— Royce Young (@royceyoung) May 29, 2018
You can’t underestimate the impact of Houston playing without CP3. But Harden is the guy. He had to drop a LeBron-type Game 7 for the Rockets to have a chance. Dude is 9-24, 2-11 from three.
— Jason Reid (@JReidESPN) May 29, 2018
11:04 – We’ve got a time out with 6:07 remaining and the score Golden State 89, Houston 79. PJ Tucker just hit a three, finally ending the Rockets streak of missed threes at an unholy 27.
Considering how Mike D’Antoni helped the NBA love & embrace the 3, it’s gotta be painful that his team tossed up 27 straight bricks from long distance with a chance to reach the NBA Finals on the line
— Michael Lee (@MrMichaelLee) May 29, 2018
Amazing how history has repeated itself 24 hours later. Both home teams, playing defending conf. champs, getting really good looks & just unable to knock ’em down.
— John Schuhmann (@johnschuhmann) May 29, 2018
11:13 – The Warriors are fouling Clint Capela to put him at the line and kill any momentum the Rockets might have, despite being up double digits.
11:14 – Kevin Durant gets a layup, and we’ll have a time out with the score Golden State 97, Houston 85 with 3:15 left in the game. It’s been a rough pair of Game 7s this Memorial Day weekend.
Steph ➡️ KD ➡️ BUCKET!
32 PTS for Durant in the contest!#DubNation 97 | #Rockets 85
3:15 to play in Game 7 on @NBAonTNT pic.twitter.com/ZqlJHZUB6q
— NBA (@NBA) May 29, 2018
11:21 – We’ve got one final time out with the score Golden State 99, Houston 92 with 29.5 seconds to go. Everyone on NBA Twitter seems bummed out or at the very least, annoyed. Like the Celtics before them, the Rockets just missed too many damn shots tonight, costing them a winnable game.
The postseason record for 3-point attempts without a make was 11 coming into this past week. Then Harden tied it a couple games ago. And Ariza, as of right now, just broke it with a 12th miss.
— Chris Herring (@Herring_NBA) May 29, 2018
Warriors fan in a Draymond jersey just got pegged in the side of the head with beer. Not a happy arena right now.
— Anthony Slater (@anthonyVslater) May 29, 2018
11:26 – This one comes to an end with a final score of Golden State 101, Houston 92.
Teams that have made the Finals 4+ times in a row:
’57-’66 Celtics
’82-’85 Lakers
’84-’87 Celtics
’11-’14 Heat
’15-’18 Cavs
’15-’18 WarriorsIt’s very difficult to do.
— Over & Back Podcast (@OverAndBackNBA) May 29, 2018
Golden State was down 3-2 and Chris Paul got hurt. And yet a lot of people seem to think the Rockets never had a chance/this was inevitable. OK?
— Zach Lowe (@ZachLowe_NBA) May 29, 2018
That’s right—-
If you’re a #Seattle NBA fan, it is @unclejeffgreen vs @KDTrey5, the last two active Sonics, in the #NBAFinals…. pic.twitter.com/5QbP7O7vOV
— Chris Daniels (@ChrisDaniels5) May 29, 2018
James Harden finished the night with 32 points, 6 rebounds, 6 assists and 4 steals on 12-29 shooting, including a 2-13 mark from beyond the arc. Eric Gordon came up with 23 points and 6 assists, but shot 2-12 from downtown. Clint Capela contributed 20 points and 9 rebounds on 9-10 shooting, and PJ Tucker chipped in with 14 points and 12 rebounds. Trevor Ariza, however, had a game to forget, going 0-12 from the field, and 0-9 on threes. Overall, the Rockets shot 7-44 on three pointers.
So James Harden walks off without shaking anybody hands? I’m sure the ladies at the club are waiting for him.
— Calvin Watkins (@calvinwatkins) May 29, 2018
Kevin Durant led the Warriors with 34 points, 5 rebounds and 5 assists on 11-21 shooting. Steph Curry came alive in the second half to finish with 27 points, 9 rebounds, 10 assists and 4 steals, and Draymond Green added 10 points, 13 rebounds and 5 assists.
After all that, it’s Golden State Warriors vs Cleveland Cavaliers, Volume 4. I’m frankly not super pumped for it, but, that’s the way the cookie crumbles. It especially sucks that Chris Paul wasn’t in action over the last couple games of the series, but the Rockets had big leads in both Games 6 & 7, but couldn’t close it out amidst a barrage of clanked three pointers. It was some sad shit.
Despite how ornery it might make us, it’s pretty spectacular that two teams are meeting for the fourth straight time in the Finals. It’s something that’s never happened in our four major sports. I think people are bummed because of the sense of inevitability. I don’t think anyone would have been upset of the Celtics and Lakers met four straight times in the 80s, but every time they met, it was awesome, and it seemed that both of them had an equal shot of winning. Here in the 2010s, it’s hard not to think that we’re in for another predictable championship, with the Warriors taking full advantage of the Cavs uneven defensive effort. Hey, maybe it will be better than that. That’s why we’ll always watch.