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SPORTS Saturday 26 May 2018

Gordon leads Rockets over Warriors 98-94 to take series lead

By KRISTIE RIEKEN basket of the quarter and
Associated Press ruled he got it off after the
HOUSTON (AP) — Chris shot clock expired, leaving
Paul's grit and veteran the Warriors ahead 80-79.
leadership have pushed The Rockets were clinging
the Golden State Warriors to a one-point lead with
to the brink of elimination. about seven minutes left
Now the Houston Rockets when Durant fouled Gor-
must wait to see if his in- don on a 3-point attempt,
jured leg is strong enough losing one of his shoes in
to help them take one last the process. Gordon made
step to the NBA Finals. all three free throws to start
Eric Gordon came off the a 7-2 spurt that extended
bench to score 24 points the lead to 88-82 midway
and his steal on Golden through the quarter.
State's last possession se- TIP-INS
cured a 98-94 victory Thurs- Warriors: Coach Steve Kerr
day night that gave the was unsure Thursday if Iguo-
Rockets a 3-2 lead in the dala would be able to re-
Western Conference finals. turn for Game 6. "He's dying
But the victory came with a to play, but he's not healthy
cost, as Paul had to leave enough," Kerr said. "We'll
the game in the final min- just continue to take it day
ute with a right hamstring to day."... Curry made four
injury that could keep him free throws to tie Rick Barry
out of Game 6. for most free throws made
"His spirits aren't great," in the playoffs in franchise
coach Mike D'Antoni said. history with 378. ... Golden
"He wanted to be out there, State had 18 turnovers.
and for sure he's worried ... Rockets: Clint Capela had
we'll see tomorrow how it Houston Rockets forward PJ Tucker (4) gestures during the final moments of the second half as 12 points and 14 rebounds
goes." Golden State Warriors guard Stephen Curry, left, and forward Draymond Green walk nearby dur- for his seventh double-
ing Game 5 of the NBA basketball playoffs Western Conference finals Thursday, May 24, 2018, in
Paul was receiving treat- Houston. double this postseason.
ment after the game and Associated Press ... Houston made 13 of 43
did not speak to reporters. 3-pointers, led by four from
The Rockets head to Oak- offenses, leaving the War- Green was asked what was After losing Game 1 of the Gordon.
land for Game 6 on Satur- riors a loss from missing the supposed to happen on series, the Rockets made SANTA FE STRONG
day night a win away from NBA Finals for the first time the play. the best of home-court ad- The Rockets honored the 10
knocking off the defending since 2014. "We was supposed to vantage this time, thrilling a people killed in last week's
champions and advancing Draymond Green made a score," he said. "I lost the sellout crowd that included school shooting in Santa Fe,
to the NBA Finals for the first 3-pointer with just over min- ball ... not much more to it Justin Timberlake, Houston Texas, before the game,
time since winning back-to- ute left to get Golden State than that." Texans star J.J. Watt and with the school's choir sing-
back titles in 1994-95. within one. Harden, who Harden scoffed at a re- rapper Travis Scott. ing the national anthem
Kevin Durant scored 29 was 0 for 11 on 3s, missed porter who questioned him It's Houston's second and team owner Tilman
points for the Warriors, who his last one with less than about his struggles from straight win in the series Fertitta wearing a "Santa Fe
lost in Game 5 of a playoff 30 seconds left, giving the long range in the last two after snapping Golden Strong" T-shirt, before Hous-
series for just the second Warriors the ball back. games, where he's gone a State's NBA playoff-record, ton scored the game's first
time since 2015. Just like Curry missed a floater and combined 3 for 22. 16-game home winning six points in a first half where
Cleveland in the East, a run Trevor Ariza grabbed the "Who cares," he said. "I'm streak with a 95-92 victory the team led by as many as
of three straight trips to the rebound and was fouled just missing shots, but we're on Tuesday night. 11.
championship round is on with 10 seconds left. But he winning." Golden State led by one to Houston also wore rectan-
the verge of ending. made just one of two free Klay Thompson shook off a start the fourth before Paul gular patches on its jerseys
"We haven't been in this throws to give the Warriors knee injury that had his sta- got going, scoring seven that read: "Santa Fe HS," to
position before ... so it's a another chance. tus for this game in question points to power a 10-5 run remember those affected
chapter we need to figure But Gordon came up with to score 23 points and Cur- that gave the Rockets an by the tragedy.
out and finish the story," his steal when Green lost ry added 22. A bruised left 81-77 lead with about 9 1/2 "We wanted to come out
Stephen Curry said. control in the lane and knee kept Andre Iguodala minutes left. and give them light, put
The Rockets won a second added two free throws with out for the second straight Thompson made a 3-point- smiles on their faces (and)
straight defensive struggle 2.4 seconds left to put it game, and Kevon Looney er after that and then of- clear their minds a little bit,"
between the two potent away. started in his place. ficials reviewed Paul's first Harden said.q