The Golden State Warriors and Cleveland Cavaliers will face each other in the NBA finals for a record fourth consecutive year following the Warriors beat the Houston Rockets 101-92 in game seven of the western conference finals.
Golden State Warriors star Stephen Curry. Photo: Photosport
Warriors point guard Steph Curry lead the way for his side, scoring 27 points against the James Harden-led Rockets.
Curry scored 14 of his 27 points in the third period as the Warriors secured their fourth consecutive berth in the NBA Finals.
The championship series begins on Thursday in Oakland, with the Cleveland Cavaliers representing the Eastern Conference. The same two teams met in the previous three Finals, with Golden State winning the title in 2015 and 2017 and Cleveland emerging winners in 2016.
Golden State, after trailing by 11 points at the intermission, outscored the Rockets 33-15 in the third period.
The Rockets fashioned their halftime lead on effort, both defensively and on the glass, but when their offense collapsed in the third quarter, their verve dissipated.
Houston shot 24 percent (6 of 25) in the third and while missing all 14 of its 3-point attempts. Curry, meanwhile, finished 5 of 6 from the floor while draining 4 of 5 from beyond the arc as the Warriors shot their way to the lead.
The Rockets missed 27 consecutive 3-point attempts, an NBA playoff record, before P.J. Tucker drilled a corner trey with 6:28 left that cut the deficit to 10 points. Houston went 7 of 44 from deep, 15.9 percent, while Golden State made 16 of 39 3-point attempts, 41 percent.
Kevin Durant totaled 34 points, five rebounds, and five assists for the Warriors, and Klay Thompson chipped in 19 points despite early foul trouble. Curry also produced nine boards, 10 assists and four steals.
James Harden posted 32 points, six rebounds, six assists and four steals for the Rockets, who again were without guard Chris Paul (right hamstring strain). Harden opened the game 4 of 5 from the floor but finished 12 of 29. Eric Gordon scored 23 points for Houston but shot 2 of 12 from 3-point range, slightly better than Harden's 2 of 13.
-Reuters
