Warriors on verge of epic collapse after Game 6 loss to Rockets

SAN FRANCISCO Golden State entered Friday s Event at Chase Center with a not-so-quiet confidence Even after losing a lopsided Meeting in Houston the Warriors assured anyone who would listen that there was nothing to worry about The Warriors were led by playoff-tested future Hall of Famers who knew how to close a series out in the Bay Area The Warriors looked like veterans all right an old gang with weary legs that struggled to keep up with the spry Rockets as the visitors defeated Golden State - The Warriors will play in Houston on Sunday at p m The turning point was a - run by Houston in the fourth quarter putting Rockets up - Before they ran out of gas the Warriors stars played well Steph Curry scored and Jimmy Butler put up But neither shot well in the last minutes unable to keep up with Fred VanVleet and his points or the Rockets and their points in the paint where Alperen Sengun and Steven Adams combined points feasted Now the Warriors are just minutes away from blowing a - series lead for the first time since the infamous Finals The Warriors entered the fourth quarter down by just two but allowed the Rockets to cap a - run with a tough Jalen Green baseline putback After the Warriors scored four unanswered in response Houston got back on track with a Sengun layup and four Thompson points The Warriors were able to shake Curry open a couple of times but his shots rimmed out On another possession Jimmy Butler was able to grab a tough rebound but he saved it right to VanVleet who buried his sixth -pointer of the night to give Houston a - lead with seven minutes remaining It was just that kind of night for the Warriors who made a spirited push utilizing the Hack a Shaq to send Adams to the line but just couldn t close the distance in the end Championship began with yet another heated moment in a series full of them The authorities gave Draymond Green a flagrant foul into the competition when the Warriors forward smacked Rockets guard Jalen Green in the head on a screen The Rockets took a - lead after minutes keyed by four offensive rebounds and a trapping zone defense that forced five turnovers three by Curry The Warriors point guard has dealt with a thumb injury for months and photos of late surfaced of the appendage being severely swollen before Challenge The Warriors decided to break out a second quarter trap of their own but solicited the slow-footed Quinten Post to run with VanVleet something the Rockets guard delighted in as he dribbled right past the defense and picked the Warriors apart The Warriors offense was stuck in slow-motion until Curry made a -pointer off a Green off-ball screen with left in the second quarter After being hounded by Rockets traps the Warriors began letting Curry operate in isolation and that shift produced an -point Curry flurry that had the result tied at with two minutes left in the half The Rockets responded with a - run of their own but Butler ended the half with a preposterous fading -pointer with seconds left to make the halftime deficit just - Butler continued his hot shooting in the third quarter scoring seven early points as he went on to enjoy his third -point championship of the playoffs The Rockets led by another efficient shooting night off the bench by onetime No overall pick Jabari Smith maintained a multi-possession lead during the third Kerr opted to hack-a-Shaq Adams forcing the sub- free throw shooter to take six foul shots It did not work He made of and Sengun tipped in the final miss to give the Rockets five points in three possessions The Warriors finished the quarter strong though with Curry shaking free for a signature layup off a Green assist and later making two foul shots to send the Warriors into the fourth quarter down just - But the Warriors would get no closer and now will progress to Houston on Sunday for Competition