The Golden State have booked their spot in the Western Conference Finals by defeating the Houston Rockets on the road in an epic Game 6 duel that went down to the wire. The Golden State Warriors are heading back to the Western Conference Finals after taking care of business against the Houston Rockets. Houston threw it all at the Warriors and looked like they were on their way to forcing the series into a deciding Game 7, but then Steph Curry came to life. An incredible final quarter from the duel MVP winner saw the home crowd left in stunned silence as the Warriors emerged victorious. If you missed any of the Game 6 action, we've got you covered below… Warriors 118, Rockets 113 (Warriors advance 4-2) Final: Warriors 118, Rockets 113 Stephen Curry was far from his MVP best through the first three quarters of the pivotal Game 6, but when it mattered most he came to life. Curry scored 23 of his 33 points in the fourth as he led the Warriors to the series deciding victory on the road. Along with Curry's hot hand, Klay Thompson was on fire from beyond the arc as the duo combined for 60 points. Steph (33 PTS) & Klay (27 PTS & 7 3PM) went to Houston and took care of business to take the series 4-2 over the Rockets! 🔒👌#StrengthInNumbers #NBAPlayoffs pic.twitter.com/DcF7TiGgj4 - NBA TV (@NBATV) May 11, 2019 James Harden threw everything he had at the Warriors, but in the end the relentless firepower from Curry was too much to overcome. Third Quarter: Rockets 87, Warriors 82 The third quarter belonged to Chris Paul as the Rockets point guard poured in 10 of his 21 points to hand Houston the lead heading into the final quarter. Klay Thompson continued his hot shooting from deep by knocking down his sixth in the term as Steph Curry's shooting woes continued. Second quarter: Rockets 57, Warriors 57 Back and forth we go in what is turning into an epic Game 6 battle. It was James Harden who lit it up in the opening quarter, but it was Klay Thompson who was on fire in the second. Thompson buried four threes and goes into the main break with 21 points to his name. James Harden leads the Rockets with 19. 21 PTS for Klay Thompson, 19 PTS for James Harden, and we're all tied at the break!#StrengthInNumbers 57#RunAsOne 57#NBAPlayoffs on @ESPNNBA pic.twitter.com/nnIjkBL0Ql - NBA (@NBA) May 11, 2019 With no Kevin Durant, the Warriors were hopeful Steph Curry would find his shooting touch. But Curry endured a tough opening half with zero points on 0-5 shooting and picking up 3 fouls. First Quarter: Rockets 28, Warriors 27 Foul trouble saw Steph Curry go to the bench less than halfway through the opening quarter after picking up his second. The Warriors offense looked stagnant at times in the halfcourt while the Rockets couldn't find the right touch. Houston got to the line 10 times in the opening quarter with James Harden leading the way with 14 points. James Harden pulls up for three and has 14 1st quarter PTS! #NBAPlayoffs #RunAsOne 23#StrengthInNumbers 23 📺: @ESPNNBA - NBA (@NBA) May 11, 2019 Pregame Stephen Curry laces up his kicks and gets loose prior to Game 6 Steph Curry laces up the "Splash Party" UA Curry 1 in Houston! #NBAKicks pic.twitter.com/hhIb84h7oG - NBA KICKS (@NBAKicks) May 10, 2019 The last eight meetings between the Warriors and Rockets have been decided by a total of one point in favor of Golden State. The teams have split those games 4-4 with no game decided by more than six points.<doc-sep>Golden State Warriors guard Klay Thompson has been known to have some big Game 6 performances in the playoffs, and he continued the trend on Friday night against the Houston Rockets. As the Warriors looked to close out the Rockets on their home floor, Thompson was a one-man wrecking crew on offense as the teams entered the locker rooms at halftime tied at 57-57. Launching early and often, Thompson scored 21 points on 8-for-15 shooting, including 5-for-9 3-pointers in the first half. His performance was essential because Stephen Curry, expected to carry a bigger offensive load with Kevin Durant out of the lineup, was held scoreless in the first half -- that's right, zero points. Curry was mired in foul trouble and never found his rhythm in 12 first-half minutes, shooting 0-for-5 from the field, which made Thompson's big half all the more important. The Warriors also got contributions from up and down the roster, with Andre Iguodala, Draymond Green and Kevon Looney scoring eight points apiece in the first half. Thompson may have kept the Warriors alive, but they'll need Curry to get going if they're going to close out the Rockets and avoid a Game 7 back in Oakland on Sunday.<doc-sep>Despite all odds being stacked against them, the Golden State Warriors eliminated the Houston Rockets in Game 6 with a 118-113 victory. With the Warriors missing Kevin Durant due to a calf strain and Golden State playing on the road at the Toyota Center, the defending champions relied on a huge first-half performance from Klay Thompson (21 points in the first half), a clutch fourth quarter from Stephen Curry and a surprising performance from the team's bench to eliminate their Western Conference rivals. Curry led the way with 33 points while Thompson finished the night with 27 points. Golden State will now face the winner of Game 7 between the Portland Trail Blazers and Denver Nuggets in the Western Conference finals. Here are some major takeaways from Golden State's victory: The old Warriors This is no disrespect to Kevin Durant, who is, at this point, pretty indisputably the best player in the NBA. But my goodness are the old Warriors something to behold. They are not perfect. They turn the ball over. They make stupid plays and get in foul trouble. But have you ever seen a team that fights like this? A few days after Kyrie Irving and the Celtics showed us what it looks like to wither up and die when the going gets tough, the Warriors reminded everyone what the heart of a champion actually looks like. Given the circumstances -- the Durant absence, Curry being held scoreless in the first half, the foul trouble, on the road -- this might very well be the most impressive victory throughout this entire five-year run. Just absolutely incredible. "Not going to swear tonight. They're giants. They're champions. These guys are a historically good basketball team," head coach Steve Kerr said of his Warriors after the Game 6 win. "You do not do what these guys have done without an incredible combination of talent and character." Stephen Curry is a god Curry has never struggled with his shot like this. For five games against Houston he was shooting 26 percent from 3. He went 0-for-5 in the first half and was held scoreless. He looked awful. That is not an overstatement. Full-blown awful. So what does he do? He comes out and scores 33 second-half points, including some monster shots in crunch time. Forget the otherworldly shooting ability -- this is what pure, unabashed confidence looks like. There might not be another player in the world who can go from shooting, and playing, that poorly to flat out dominating in the blink of an eye like he never missed a beat. Just remarkable, the willingness and self-belief to keep playing through those struggles at full speed, no hesitation, against relentless double-teams and traps, with the stakes that high and a world of criticism awaiting him if he didn't turn it around. Never doubt Steph Curry. Ever. Unless you want to look like a fool. "That game personified Steph Curry," Kerr said after the game. "He's just fearless. That's what makes him who he is." Can't say it better than that. Game 6 Klay Thompson Klay has a history of going off in Game 6s, and he did it again when the Warriors needed it most, finishing with with 27 points, but it was the 21 first-half points that were beyond huge. If Klay doesn't carry the Warriors in the first half while Curry was on the bench with three fouls and zero points, there are no heroics to be had at the end. It would've been over long before that. Never mind Klay's defense all night. He had some of the most impressive defensive possessions you will ever see in this game. This dude is such a battler it's hard to find the words for it. Unfazed by anything. Kudos to Chris Paul and James Harden Especially Paul, who finally had a vintage Chris Paul game with 27 points, 11 rebounds and six assists. He hit 3s. He got into the lane. He gave Harden, who finished with 35 points, the support he needed, and it just wasn't enough. This is as brutal a loss as Paul has ever suffered, and he's suffered some brutal ones. The Rockets did not lose this game, however. The Warriors won it. That's a big distinction that needs to be made. Recap of live updates CBS Sports was with you throughout Warriors vs. Rockets Game 6. Scroll through our LIVE blog if you missed anything. If you're having trouble viewing the live application below, please click here. TV listings All games will air on ESPN, ABC, TNT and NBA TV during the postseason. Games on TNT and NBA TV can be streamed via fuboTV (try it for free). Odds and Analysis Check Sportsline's NBA pick sheet for all your daily odds.<doc-sep>The Western Conference Semifinals continue in Houston on Friday as the Warriors look to close out the series. powered by Friday, May 10 6:00 p.m. Toyota Center Houston, TX WATCH: ESPN RADIO: 95.7 The Game, ESPN Radio, Warriors Mobile App and Warriors vs. RocketsFriday, May 106:00 p.m.Toyota CenterHouston, TXWATCH: ESPNRADIO: 95.7 The Game, ESPN Radio, Warriors Mobile App and Warriors Radio Network SEALING THE SERIES Riding the heels of a crucial victory on Warriors Ground, the Dubs head into Houston leading the series 3-2 and having a chance to close out the Western Conference Semifinals in Game 6 on Friday. Though riding a wave of momentum into the next one, the Dubs will be without Kevin Durant, who will miss the rest of the series to rehab a strained calf. The Warriors' will look to fill the gap left by the All-Star and become the first team in the series to win a game on the road. LAST TIME OUT The Warriors protected Warriors Ground in Game 5 on Wednesday as the team recorded a 104-99 victory over the Rockets and take a 3-2 series lead in the Western Conference Semifinals. » Full Recap MATCHUP AT A GLANCE Playoff Ranks GSW HOU 3-2 2-3 1st in West 4th in West PTS: 118.1 (1st) PTS: 108.1 (8th) REB: 43.5 (8th) REB: 43.2 (10th) AST: 28.5 (1st) AST: 18.0 (16th) LAST GAME'S STARTERS GSW: Stephen Curry, Klay Thompson, Kevin Durant, Draymond Green and Andre Iguodala HOU: Chris Paul, James Harden, Eric Gordon, P.J. Tucker and Clint Capela INJURY & ROSTER NOTES GSW: Kevin Durant (right calf strain), DeMarcus Cousins (left quadriceps tear) and Damian Jones (left pectoral surgery) are out. Team Notes HOU: None. Team Notes LOONEY TO THE RESCUE After being a key contributor in the final seven minutes of Game 5, the Warriors sung praises for Kevon Looney when filling in for the injured Kevin Durant down the stretch. Klay Thompson acknowledged Looney’s hard work, simply saying: “Kevon Looney, can’t say enough about his performance. Five offensive rebounds, that’s just heart right there.” With the absence of Kevin Durant, Looney will likely be a big contributor in the Dubs’ rotation for Friday’s contest. In what has been a highly physical series, Looney’s tenacity will be key off the glass in helping the squad gain as many extra possessions as possible. TEAM PLAYOFF LEADERS GSW HOU PTS: Durant (34.2) PTS: Harden (31.3) REB: Green (9.2) REB: Capela (10.3) AST: Green (8.1) AST: Harden (6.8) HOUSTON SCOUTING REPORT The Rockets are undefeated at home this postseason (5-0), going nearly two months since their last loss on their home court, which came at the hands of the Dubs on March 13. A lot has happened since the Rockets launched their current 12-game home winning streak, but the one constant has been James Harden. He has led Houston in scoring in each of their playoff games this season and has averaged 34.8 points per game in this current series. Harden’s performance will surely impact the Rockets’ overall play, but another area of focus should be rebounding. So far in this series, the team that has won the rebounding battle has won the game, and that’s also true in terms of offensive rebounding. That’s where P.J. Tucker is a wildcard. In the three Warriors wins this series, Tucker has had just one offensive rebound, but in the Rockets’ two wins – each of which were in Houston – Tucker pulled down a combined nine offensive rebounds. The Rockets’ backs are against the wall and figure to be the aggressors in all areas of the game. After all, they have nothing to lose. If the Warriors can temper the storm on the boards, that can potentially create early offense opportunities for the Dubs.<doc-sep>
Things didn't look so great for the Golden State Warriors after dropping Games 3 and 4, but they were able to pull out a Game 5 victory, defeating the Houston Rockets, 104-99. Despite losing Kevin Durant for the entire fourth quarter due to a right calf strain, the Warriors rode Stephen Curry's 20-point second half effort to hold off the Rockets' surge to take a 3-2 series lead. With the Warriors leading 102-99 in crunch time, Golden State nearly suffered a costly turnover before Kevon Looney recovered a loose ball and Klay Thompson then converted on a layup to close out the game for the Warriors. It's unclear how serious Durant's injury is, but the Warriors might have to overcome his absence as they look to eliminate the Rockets in Game 6. Here are three takeaways from the Warriors Game 5 win: Sigh of relief When Kevin Durant came up lame after planting on his right foot for a jump shot, it was impossible to not think the worst: Achilles tear. It seemed to have all the signs, and the fate of not just the Warriors but, in many ways, the entire NBA landscape was hanging in the balance. When TNT's Allie LaForce reported that it was a right calf strain, everyone breathed a giant sigh of relief. Well, everyone except the Rockets, perhaps. We still have to see how long Durant will be out, and the calf strain might not even be an official diagnosis at this point. But all things considered, this is about as good of news as the Warriors could've possibly hoped for. Now that's a championship response Stephen Curry was, and largely still is, in the middle of one of the worst shooting streaks of his career. Given the stakes, it probably is the worst. When Durant went out, Curry had just nine points and was missing everything again. But when it came time to dig deep with Durant in the locker room, Curry was there. All told, Curry scored 20 of his 25 points in the second half. Klay Thompson hit huge shots. Draymond Green hit a monster three. Andre Iguodala made plays. Kevon Looney was the MVP of the game. On a night when the Celtics showed everyone what it looks like to wither up and die without a fight, the Warriors reminded everyone what the heart of a champion looks and feels like. You don't win three out of four championships by accident. Series is far from over When a best-of-seven series is tied 2-2, the team that wins Game 5 goes on to win the series 82 percent of the time. In other words, historically speaking, the Rockets have a less than 20-percent chance of winning this series. But it sure doesn't feel that way, does it? The home team has won every game in this series, and if Durant is out for Game 6, obviously you favor the Rockets in that game, and then anything can happen in Game 7. This series is far from over. CBS Sports was with you throughout Game 5 between the Rockets and Warriors. If you missed any of the action, take a scroll through our LIVE blog. If you are unable to view the live application below, please click here. How to watch Rockets vs. Warriors Game 6 Date: Friday, May 10 Friday, May 10 Time: 9:00 p.m. ET 9:00 p.m. ET Location: Toyota Center -- Houston, Texas Toyota Center -- Houston, Texas TV channel: ESPN ESPN Live stats: GameTracker GameTracker Online streaming: WatchESPN WatchESPN Odds: Not available at this time TV listings All games will air on ESPN, ABC, TNT and NBA TV during the postseason. Games on TNT and NBA TV can be streamed via fuboTV (try it for free). Odds and Analysis Check Sportsline's NBA pick sheet for all your daily odds. Who wins Game 5 of Warriors vs. Rockets? And which side of the spread hits in well over 50 percent of simulations? Visit SportsLine now to find out which side of the spread you need to jump on, all from the projection model up over $3,000 on top-rated NBA picks.