In a night marked by tension and constant changes on the scoreboard, the Golden State Warriors showed their mettle and managed to win 104-93 against the Houston Rockets at the Chase Center. The game, far from having a clear dominator, remained in balance until the final minutes, where the experience and poise of the locals made the difference.
For much of the game, Houston looked comfortable on the court, leading by as many as ten points and showing great offensive fluidity. However, the Warriors were able to withstand the pressure and capitalized in the final quarter, where they managed to break the tie and head towards a key victory in front of their fans.
Houston pressed, but the Warriors responded
The start was erratic for both teams. The pace was affected by interruptions and execution failures, which prevented either from taking control early on. Although the Rockets managed to pull away on the scoreboard at times, Golden State stayed in the fight, closing each quarter with life and without losing focus.
In the final stretch of the last quarter, with the game tied at 74-74, the balance began to tip. Although Houston momentarily regained the lead (81-80), the Warriors reacted with an offensive flurry, culminating in a double-digit lead that sealed the victory and woke up the Chase Center.
Nuggets tie series with epic finish in Los Angeles
In another game that kept fans on the edge of their seats, the Denver Nuggets defeated the LA Clippers 101-99 to tie the Western Conference first-round playoff series at 2-2. The duel, held at the Intuit Dome, was an emotional rollercoaster, with a finish that was literally decided at the buzzer.
Denver seemed to have complete control of the game after a dominant performance from Nikola Jokic, who finished with 36 points, 21 rebounds and eight assists. However, the Clippers refused to give up and staged a furious fourth-quarter comeback led by Kawhi Leonard, Norman Powell and Ivica Zubac.
An unexpected hero
The comeback ignited the home crowd, who saw their team take the lead in the final seconds. But when Jokic missed a three-pointer to win, Aaron Gordon emerged as the unlikely hero: he grabbed the offensive rebound and dunked just before the final buzzer. After reviewing the play, the referees confirmed the score and with it, the dramatic victory for the defending champions.
The duel was also full of tension. A dispute before the break caused six technical fouls to be distributed between both teams, reflecting what is at stake. Now, with the series tied, both teams will meet again on Monday, April 29 in Denver, in a Game 5 that promises to be electrifying.
The night in the Western Conference left two games that perfectly reflect the intensity of the playoffs. Golden State defended its home court with character, while Denver survived a physical and mental battle to stay alive in the series.
Read the full article here
