It was the kind of loss you never get over. The Houston Rockets needed a win in Game 6 against the Golden State Warriors on Friday to extend their second-round series, and, despite Kevin Durant being sidelined with a strained calf, despite Stephen Curry going scoreless in the first half, despite their star backcourt of James Harden and Chris Paul combining for 62 points on 22-for-44 shooting, they didn't get it done. The Rockets led by double-digits at halftime of Game 7 of last year's conference finals against the Warriors and missed 27 straight 3-pointers, but, somehow, this was worse. "I'm definitely not going to get over it in this press conference or tomorrow or the next day," a despondent Mike D'Antoni said after the 118-113 defeat. "This one hurts. We didn't play our best. To beat these guys, you gotta play your best. It's almost like in a boxing match, you gotta knock the champion out. And we couldn't, we didn't knock them out." The Rockets can't chalk this up to untimely misses. They went 17 for 39 from 3-point range, their best mark of the playoffs, and had an offensive rating of 115.3, which would lead the league if sustained over a full season. They lost because they couldn't take care of the ball. They lost because they allowed the defending champions to hang around. They lost because, thanks to their defensive mistakes, Golden State had its best offensive game of the series on a night in which it played reserves Quinn Cook, Alfonzo McKinnie, Jordan Bell and Kevon Looney at the same time. "You cannot relax on defense for one second," D'Antoni said. You cannot forget to box out one second. You've gotta be a champion to beat a champion. I just thought there was too many times that we had a miscommunication, we relaxed a little bit or we weren't really 100 percent sharp. We were playing hard and trying to do it, but with them, you cannot make a mental mistake. Not for a second. Or it's going to be three points. And they got us a few times." One of the 3s he alluded to was the dagger: Klay Thompson's 28-foot bomb with 36 seconds on the clock. It gave the Warriors a 110-104 lead, and while it was by no means an easy shot, it was one Houston shouldn't have allowed. Paul could have left Andre Iguodala alone in the corner, but stunted at him rather than staying attached to one of the greatest shooters of all-time. "I made a false step towards Iguodala," Paul said, "and that's all he need, you know what I mean? Klay is tough." The Rockets called timeout after that, and, in a desperate situation, Gerald Green had his 3-pointer blocked by Looney. This was not Green's most inexplicable field goal attempt of the fourth quarter, however: Early in the period, P.J. Tucker passed up an open 3 on a fast break in favor of slowing things down. Tucker handed the ball off to Green, who drove into traffic and missed a wild fadeaway over two defenders from about nine feet out. Iguodala hit a 3 on the next possession. There were self-inflicted wounds all night, starting with four turnovers in the first five minutes. The Warriors were within one point at the end of the first quarter largely because they had four offensive rebounds, which all directly led to easy baskets or free throws. Throughout, when Houston played disciplined defense, it was able to put them in uncomfortable positions. Too often, though, it could not stay connected for a full 24 seconds. This was particularly evident late in the game, with Golden State running Curry-Green side pick-and-rolls over and over again. "We just gotta play smarter," Paul said. To the Warriors' credit, their entire game plan is designed to make opponents look dumb. When Curry and Thompson are sprinting all over the court, using screens and launching 3s, it takes a significant amount of mental and physical energy to stay with them. Golden State wants to confuse opponents with ball and player movement, and, without Durant, there is naturally a greater emphasis on that. The Warriors played with the gusto you'd expect from a shorthanded squad, trying to push the ball at every opportunity and manufacture points however they could. Curry and Thompson made incredible shots in crunch time, but they wouldn't have been in position to do that if the Rockets hadn't been so disappointingly sloppy before that. Houston waited almost a year for another chance to take down the champs. It remade the roster in the summer and again midseason and seemed equipped to do it until it didn't. All six games in the series were decided by five points or fewer, and the NBA will be lucky if the Finals are as tense as this. There is no excuse, however, for failing to capitalize on Durant's absence. The Rockets had the best opportunity they could have possibly asked for, a shot as clear as any of those 27 3s from last year, and they blew it. Now they have to live with that.<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 Golden State Warriors have eradicated their alleged biggest competition in the Western Conference. The final game of the series against the Houston Rockets was a yet another flex of the Dubs’ slogan: “Strength In Numbers”. I’ve been wracking my brain trying to figure out which Warrior was most wondrous, but I gotta confess: this one’s just too darn close to call. I’m gonna need your help one more time, Dub Nation: WHO WAS THE WARRIORS WONDER IN THE GAME 6 ELIMINATION OF THOSE JABRONIS FROM HOUSTON? Stephen Curry 33 points/ 5 rebs/ 4 assists Curry had more fouls than than points and assists combined after the first half in Houston last night....because he had 0 points. I can’t believe the Rockets lost after Curry spotted them a 24 minute head start. Curry activated “Unanimous” mode in the second half and never looked back. ☔️ @StephenCurry30 goes off for 33 PTS in the 2nd half, leading the @warriors past Houston and into the Western Conference Finals! #StrengthInNumbers #NBAPlayoffs pic.twitter.com/1A26pJfLEk — NBA (@NBA) May 11, 2019 Amazing story about how Chris Paul tried to be petty and it backfired causing Steph Curry to say “kick me off the court again, boy!” #NBAPlayoffs By @ThompsonScribe pic.twitter.com/TiMpplc8aC — George Wrighster III (@georgewrighster) May 11, 2019 Chris Paul had Steph Curry kicked off the Toyota Center court the night before the game when he went to get shots up. Stephs response after the game last night. pic.twitter.com/8xjsebPmtS — NBA (@TheNBASoul) May 11, 2019 Klay Thompson 27 points/ 7 made threes While Curry was not balling out in the first two quarters, his fellow Splash Brother picked up the slack both offensively and defensively, styming James Harden. Stephen Curry's first half: All kinds of awful. Klay Thompson's first half: 21 points (no other Warrior w/more than 8). Curry's plus/minus: 0 Thompson's plus/minus: -4 Why it's wise to be careful with numbers. — Monte Poole (@MontePooleNBCS) May 11, 2019 James Harden when defended by Klay Thompson last night on 35 possessions: 12 points 1 assist 1 turnover 1 blocked 2 fouls drawn 3/12 FG 2/8 3PT pic.twitter.com/0qow06Ic8j — r/Warriors (@GSWReddit) May 11, 2019 He also sealed the game with a vicious dagger, because it was a Game 6 and that’s what Game 6 Klay does, baby! The defining play of this series for the Warriors. Curry, Draymond, Iggy, Klay, BANG, dagger 3. pic.twitter.com/881eRbnzf1 — Mathias Eftedal (@Maefteda) May 11, 2019 Andre Iguodala 17 points/ 5 made threes/ 5 steals Wow, sure was nice having Iguodala for this go-round with Houston. If Andre Iguodala doesn't make the Basketball Hall of Fame after what he's done delivering performance after performance like tonight's, they should just shut the place down. Amazing player. — Carl Steward (@stewardsfolly) May 11, 2019 Andre Iguodala is as professional as it comes: “I don’t really get too high anymore off games. I’m good. I’m just looking forward to the flight to relax.” (He had 17 points and 5 steals) pic.twitter.com/l69Ce9dHZt — Drew Shiller (@DrewShiller) May 11, 2019 Draymond Green 8 points/ 10 rebs/ 7 assists Shout out to everybody who jumped on the “Trade Draymond” bandwagon after he cursed out Kevin Durant last fall. Green was the pounding heartbeat of the champs last night, putting his fingerprints all over this game both defensively and offensively. His work with Curry as a recipient of the high pick-and-roll completely dismantled Houston’s defense in crunch time last night. Warriors ran Curry/Green PnR 10 times in the 4th. Scored on 8 of those, for 19 points. Only misses were the oop to Looney and Draymond possibly fouled by Capela at the rim. — Nate Duncan (@NateDuncanNBA) May 11, 2019 "I'm not gonna sit here and sugar coat it. ... This one felt amazing." —Draymond Green on the Warriors' Game 6 win in Houston pic.twitter.com/PDe8e6NwhI — NBA on ESPN (@ESPNNBA) May 11, 2019 Kevon Looney 14 points/ 5 rebs I picked a heck of a time to write a “Looney is the X-Factor” piece, eh? This young monster did everything the Warriors needed him to do in a tense elimination game on the road. Kevon Looney might get a statue at Chase. — Sean (@BaySean) May 11, 2019 Klay Thompson details why he’s proud of Kevon Looney. #Warriors pic.twitter.com/UMobblm7Iu — 95.7 The Game (@957thegame) May 11, 2019 Shaun Livingston 11 points/ 1 poster dunk Mr. Livingston, I presume? He shook off the knee issues to help bury the Rockets alive. This dunk HAD to be satisfying for our beloved backup guard who is probably going to retire after this season.<doc-sep>Stephen Curry (33 points in the second half) and Klay Thompson (27 points) set the tone for the Warriors as they earned a hard-fought road win to advance to the Western Conference Finals for the fifth-straight year. For the second consecutive season and the fourth time in five years, the Golden State Warriors have eliminated the Houston Rockets from the NBA Playoffs. Thanks to the shooting of Klay Thompson (7-13 3FG) and a big second half from Stephen Curry (33 points), the Warriors earned a five-point Game 6 win to advance to the Western Conference Finals for a fifth consecutive year. Golden State now awaits the winner of Game 7 between the Denver Nuggets and Portland Trail Blazers Here are some takeaways from the Warriors' series-clinching win. Curry heats up in the clutch Steph Curry stepped up to the plate and knocked it out of the park in Game 5 when Kevin Durant went down. Many expected him to continue and carry that form over into Game 6 in Houston, but the two-time MVP came out of the gate cold. Foul trouble in the first half along with tough Houston defence saw Curry enter the main break with zero points to his name. But it was a tale of two halves as Curry came out scorching in the second half, mainly in the fourth quarter when the game was up for grabs. Curry got his game going with a few layups and floaters and then proceeded to hit dagger after dagger, dropping 23 points in the quarter. Curry ended the game with 33 points on 9-for-20 shooting, going 4-for-11 from three and knocking down a perfect 11-for-11 from the free throw line. With all of his points coming in the second half, he set a new postseason career-high point for points in the second half. With a banged-up left hand, Curry showed he can light up in the blink of an eye and steal a key win even when he's had an incredibly rough start. Game 6 Klay In Game 6 of the 2016 Western Conference Finals, Klay Thompson sank an NBA-record 11 3-pointers. In Game 6 of the 2018 Western Conference Finals, Klay Thompson sank nine 3-pointers. In Game 6 of this year's Western Conference Semis, Thompson sank seven of his 13 3-point attempts - including a late-game dagger - to finish with 27 points. big time bucket 💦 pic.twitter.com/yaWkGiw2RL - Golden State Warriors (@warriors) May 11, 2019 Thompson set the tone early on, scoring 21 points in the first half after shooting 5-for-9 from beyond the arc. His first-half performance was especially important considering Stephen Curry was held scoreless and the rest of the team shot 2-for-9 from beyond the arc With Kevin Durant and DeMarcus Cousins sidelined and Curry having an uncharacteristically poor night, Thompson did exactly what was needed to keep Golden State in the game as it entered the half knotted up at 57. Had it not been for Thompson's first-half exploits, the Warriors deficit might have been far too large to overcome. Often the forgotten one, it's moments like these where we're reminded just how good - and valuable - Thompson is to this team. It just so happens to occur in Game 6s. Fouls, fouls, fouls Everything was on the line in a gruelling Game 6 battle and both teams threw everything they had at one another. The hot action, however, was met with plenty of whistles with big names players on both sides finding themselves in foul trouble. Steph Curry picked up an early two fouls in the opening quarter and found his way to the bench while Draymond Green picked up his fourth midway through the third. For the Rockets it was big man Clint Capela who struggled with foul trouble as he picked up his fourth in the third. A total of 30 fouls were called throughout the contest as the two teams continued to trade barbs. As the Warriors enter the Western Conference Finals with the injured Kevin Durant's status remaining uncertain, this team must look to limit its fouling because the rotation has become limited.<doc-sep>
Stephen Curry and Klay Thompson combined for 60 points, and the visiting Golden State Warriors pulled away late in Game 6 to claim their Western Conference semifinal series with a 118-113 victory over the Houston Rockets on Friday. May 10, 2019; Houston, TX, USA; Golden State Warriors guard Stephen Curry (30) dribbles past Houston Rockets guard Chris Paul (3) in the first quarter in game six of the second round of the 2019 NBA Playoffs at Toyota Center. Thomas B. Shea-USA TODAY Sports The Warriors prevailed in the finale of the best-of-seven series despite playing without their leading scorer this postseason, Kevin Durant, sidelined due to a calf injury. Durant’s status is uncertain ahead of Game 1 of the Western Conference finals in Oakland, Calif., on Tuesday against the Portland Trail Blazers or the Denver Nuggets. “Obviously, we just wanted to win the series, but this is ideal,” said Warriors coach Steve Kerr. “Probably give the players the weekend off to recuperate. “We’ll have at least the next few days to prepare and recover, so this was a huge one for us tonight, especially considering the minutes (the) starters played this series.” Curry, scoreless on 0-for-5 shooting in the first half, sank a pair of dagger 3-pointers down the stretch of the fourth quarter and posted 33 points. He was 8-for-8 from the foul line in the final 30.4 seconds, and he finished with 23 points in the fourth. “I’ve had games like this before, just not as drastic going from zero to 33,” Curry said. Thompson said of Curry’s late-game resurgence, “It did not surprise me one bit. The man is a competitor, a champion, and on top of that, he plays with such heart. He’s our leader.” With Durant out, Golden State’s Draymond Green said the team played a style they used to have before Durant joined the team. “There were some times it felt like that, a lot of pace, a lot of movement just trying to push the tempo,” he said after putting up eight points, 10 rebounds and seven assists. “With Kevin, you can kind of be lazy knowing you can throw the ball to K and he’ll get that bucket. It definitely was a little throwback for us, for sure.” Slideshow ( 7 images ) With the Rockets trailing 107-104 following a driving layup from James Harden, Thompson nailed a 3-pointer with 36.1 seconds remaining to clinch the series for the Warriors. Thompson added 27 points on 7-of-13 3-point shooting, and the Golden State bench, largely absent throughout the series, contributed 33 points, with Kevon Looney (14 points) and Shaun Livingston (11) both scoring in double figures. The Warriors finished 16 of 38 from behind the arc, with Andre Iguodala going 5 of 8 on 3-point attempts while contributing 17 points. Harden paced the Rockets with 35 points and added eight rebounds and four steals. Chris Paul produced his best game of the series with 27 points and 11 boards, but it wasn’t enough. The Warriors also eliminated the Rockets last postseason, winning Game 7 of the conference finals in Houston. “We had to scrap and fight for everything the last two years against them, and we’ve been fortunate to come out on top,” Kerr said. “But we’re thrilled to be moving on and excited to have this one in our rearview mirror.” As was the case throughout the series, neither team could maintain a lead once one was established. The Rockets forged a 37-33 edge on a Paul pull-up in transition at the 9:26 mark of the second quarter only for the Warriors to reel off a 17-5 run that featured a Livingston dunk, an Iguodala trey and back-to-back threes from Thompson that lifted Golden State to a 50-42 advantage. The Rockets responded with a 15-5 spurt that included successive 3-pointers from Austin Rivers, Harden and Gerald Green, but the Warriors pulled even at the break with a jumper from Thompson, who had 21 points by the intermission. In the third quarter, whenever the Rockets pushed ahead, the Warriors clawed back. Early in the fourth, when Iguodala drained a 3-pointer immediately after the Rockets squandered a three-on-one transition opportunity, the Warriors were within 89-85. That’s when, finally, Curry arrived and led Golden State back to the Western Conference finals. Game 7 of the Nuggets-Trail Blazers series is scheduled for Sunday afternoon in Denver.