Houston Rockets Fade Against Golden State Warriors 126-113

The Houston Rockets needed this game tonight in the worst of ways.

This was not just another game, another win/loss, a trite match up of sorts.

This was THE game to win.

You know why?

It’s the last time these two teams have any opportunity to face each other this season.

The Rockets have yet to beat the Golden State Warriors and this was the most perfect opportunity above any other to get the job and get the W.

So what if it’s on the road? So what if it’s against a team that has lost only once this season on their home court?

It doesn’t matter, there’s a task at hand and there’s a job to do.

Beat those Warriors!

Jan 21, 2015; Oakland, CA, USA; Houston Rockets guard

James Harden

(13) fouls Golden State Warriors guard

Klay Thompson

(11) during the second quarter at Oracle Arena. Mandatory Credit: Kelley L Cox-USA TODAY Sports

James Harden knew what he had to do — he didn’t want to be embarrassed like he was this past Saturday with such a meager performance.

Stephen Curry needed to be shut down — tough task but somebody’s got to be up to it!

With the way things started, you’d think that wasn’t the mission.

The Rockets got out-hustled, out-muscled and the Warriors were totally having their way.

The Warriors quickly jumped out to a nine-point lead with 6:25 left after a Harrison Barnes slam dunk.

No matter what the Rockets did, they couldn’t make any inroads toward chiseling away at their deficit.

That’s when Kevin McHale had enough and inserted Jason Terry and Corey Brewer in the lineup to see if he could conjure up a spark.

It worked.

The Rockets were able to jut out to an 8-2 run to put themselves back in the game within three points at the end of the 1st quarter. Warriors 32, Rockets 29

Jan 21, 2015; Oakland, CA, USA; Golden State Warriors guard

Andre Iguodala

(9) shoots the ball in front of Houston Rockets guard

Corey Brewer

(33) during the fourth quarter at Oracle Arena. The Warriors won 126-113. Mandatory Credit: Kelley L Cox-USA TODAY Sports

At the start of the 2nd quarter, things were quite close but Draymond Green started a 9-0 run by the Warriors culminating with Harden being sent to the line after a Curry foul. It was Curry that scored the remaining two points on that run with a jump shot. Warriors 51, Rockets 40

The Warriors really took it to the Rockets, going on a 11-2 run to lead the Rockets 62-42 at the half. Ouch!

The Rockets allowing 62 points in the 1st half? Yep, that’s going to drop us a few pegs in the defensive rankings.

There was not much of an improvement starting the 3rd quarter with the Warriors as up by as much as 27.

That was a quarter of technical fouls — most notably the double slapped on Curry and Trevor Ariza as they were going at defensively causing a slight scuffle with 8:22 left to go.

Also with 2:59 left, an annoyed Josh Smith just committed a turnover causing Andre Iguodala to convert that into a alley-oop dunk from Klay Thompson.

Frustrated at the whole situation, he left the ref have it and subsequently slapped with two techs to send him to the locker room.

The Warriors pressed on to lead at the end of the 3rd 102-78.

Jan 21, 2015; Oakland, CA, USA; Golden State Warriors guard

Stephen Curry

(30) shoots the ball against the Houston Rockets during the third quarter at Oracle Arena. The Warriors won 126-113. Mandatory Credit: Kelley L Cox-USA TODAY Sports

The 4th quarter was mainly an exhibition of the bench featuring Brewer, Terry, Kostas Papanikolaou, Alexey Shved and Joey Dorsey.

Things did get interesting when Terry hit a three with 3:36 left cutting the Rockets’ deficit to 11 points. Warriors 114, Rockets 103

But after a Warriors timeout, Steve Kerr quickly went back to three of his starters — Curry, Green and Thompson — and they were back in control soon enough. Final Score: Warriors 126, Rockets 113

This game looked quite similar to Saturday’s — taking away all what the Rockets do best as I mentioned previously.

Although Curry scored 22 points notching 10 assists, the Rockets were able to force six turnovers off of him.

The biggest bright spot was Harden with 33 points, six dimes off 8-for-18 shooting from the field, 3-for-6 from the three-point line and 14-of-16 from the charity stripe.

Brewer also had 20 points off the bench with six rebounds and three assists.

The Rockets could not get it done this season against the Warriors, although it’s a concern, it will matter when the playoffs start.

Let’s hope they have their act together by then.