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James Harden posted 41 points, nine rebounds and six assists as the Houston Rockets earned a 126-121 overtime win versus the visiting Golden State Warriors in Game 3 of their NBA Western Conference second-round playoff series.
Harden scored seven of the Rockets’ last nine overtime points, including a running floater in the lane with 26.1 seconds left:
Houston Rockets @HoustonRockets
HARDEN. CALLED. GAME. https://t.co/aLjcX2YtuH
Rockets guard Eric Gordon added 30 points on 11-of-20 shooting.
Kevin Durant scored a game-high 46 points for the Warriors, who lead the best-of-seven matchup 2-1. KD is now averaging 39.4 points in his last seven playoff games.
Draymond Green added 19 points, 11 rebounds and 10 assists.
Warriors Are Unbeatable When Green Brings A-Game
Green finds himself in a select group of players who can significantly impact the game without scoring thanks to his rebounding, passing and defensive skills.
When Green is scoring, though, the Warriors are nearly impossible to beat.
The San Francisco Chronicle and Warriors PR provided Golden State’s record when Green earns a triple-double:
Sporting Green @SportingGreenSF
Draymond Green has triple double vs. the Rockets tonight in Game 3 of the Western Conference Playoffs.
#warriors #NBAPlayoffs https://t.co/YmlyrTw9Kl
Warriors PR @WarriorsPR
Draymond Green has his sixth career playoff triple-double (second this postseason) with 18 points, 10 rebounds and 10 assists. The Warriors are 27-0 when Green records a triple-double (22-0 regular season, 5-0 postseason).
Granted, that number is now 27-1, but that’s still pretty good.
The seven-year veteran made a significant scoring impact Saturday, perhaps never more so when he hit this clutch three-pointer to close the third:
Golden State Warriors @warriors
Yes Dray!
#NBAonABC https://t.co/ZUt30XrWXM
That bucket regained some momentum for the Warriors, who fell behind by double digits in the third before cutting the lead to seven entering the fourth.
Green also showed off his deft passing, most notably when he found Durant on a backdoor cut:
Golden State Warriors @warriors
KD
The former Michigan State star routinely dominates on the boards and set a franchise mark on Saturday:
Warriors PR @WarriorsPR
With six rebounds tonight, Draymond Green has recorded his 1,000th career postseason rebound, the first player in Warriors history to reach that mark.
On defense, Green is the Warriors’ quarterback, as evidenced by his communication:
NBA @NBA
Draymond Green is mic’d up for Game 3! #StrengthInNumbers #NBAPlayoffs
Drew Shiller of Warriors Outsider summarized all facets of Green’s play perfectly:
The Warriors may have fallen short, but Green and Durant were the reasons the Warriors were able to stay close. Klay Thompson and Stephen Curry combined to shoot just 13-of-39, and the bench scored just seven points and collectively had a minus-20.
Chances are the Splash Brothers will shoot better and the bench will contribute more going forward. If those two things happen and Green continues his torrid pace, then the Rockets will face a significant uphill climb to win this series.
Green is destroying the Rockets in the playoffs, averaging 16.0 points on 65.9 percent shooting, 10.7 rebounds and 8.7 assists. He’s a significant problem for Houston and all teams, and that won’t change moving forward.
What’s Next?
Houston will host Golden State for Game 4 on Monday at 9:30 p.m. ET.
from Daily Trends Hunter http://bit.ly/2H2aSdk
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