Houston Rockets vs Golden State Warriors Match Player Stats On Oct 17, 2017

The Sports Xchange
Oct 18, 2017

OAKLAND, Calif. -- P.J. Tucker gave Houston the lead with a pair of free throws with 44.1 seconds left, and the Rockets survived a Kevin Durant hoop that came just after the final horn, stunning Golden State 122-121 on the Warriors' ring-ceremony opening night Tuesday.

Houston, the third-winningest team in the NBA last season, trailed by 11 entering the final period and 114-107 after a Stephen Curry 3-pointer with 5:12 left before rallying to hand Golden State its second consecutive opening night loss at home.

The Rockets also beat Golden State in the teams' first meeting last season, a double-overtime thriller, before the Warriors captured the season series by taking the final three matchups.

Eric Gordon had a three-point play and Tucker a 3-point shot during the late flurry, which was capped when two offensive rebounds gave the Rockets a third possession in the final minute, down 121-120.

Tucker was then fouled and dropped both free throws for the game's final scoring.

The Warriors, who lost only 15 times last season, turned the ball over on their next possession, then had a shot at a win when Curry was off the mark on a 3-point attempt with five seconds left.

After a deflection, the ball wound up in the hands of Durant, whose 12-footer from the left baseline left his hand just after the final horn. A video review determined the basket would not count.

James Harden had 27 points and 10 assists, Gordon scored 24 and Tucker added 20 for the Rockets, who had lost their last two openers.

Luc Mbah a Moute chipped in with 14 points, Ryan Anderson 13 and Clint Capela 12 in a balanced Rockets attack. In his Houston debut, Chris Paul had four points, 11 assists and eight rebounds.

Nick Young had 23 points, Curry 22 and Durant 20 for the Warriors, who became just the fourth defending champ since 2000 to lose its opener the following season.

Klay Thompson added 16 for the Warriors, who outshot the Rockets 53.8 percent to 48.5 percent.

The Rockets trailed 101-88 entering the fourth period before scoring the quarter's first nine points, including a 3-pointer by reserve Mbah a Moute, to make it a game.

The Warriors, who led by as many as 17 points in the first half, played the fourth quarter without All-Star forward Draymond Green, who sustained a strained left knee late in the third period.

NOTES: NBA commissioner Adam Silver presented the Warriors with their 2016-17 championship rings in a pregame, on-court ceremony. The franchise's fifth all-time championship banner also was raised to the Oracle Arena rafters. ... The game was officiated by two referees for the final 8:56 after Tre Maddox sustained an injury to his right side after a collision with Warriors PF David West. Maddox had to be helped to the locker room. ... The Warriors played without SF Andre Iguodala, who strained his back in a weight-training session. He is expected to make his season debut during the Warriors' three-game trip that tips off Friday night at New Orleans. ... The Rockets will experience their second home opener as a visitor when they travel to Sacramento for the second half of a back-to-back on Wednesday night.