Houston Rockets bounced back with a vengeance on Wednesday, powering past reigning champion Golden State Warriors 127-105 to level their NBA Western Conference finals series at one game apiece.
Houston’s MVP candidate James Harden scored 27 points and Eric Gordon added 27 off the bench as five players scored in double figures for a Rockets team chastened by a 119-106 series-opening defeat on Monday.
“Total team effort,” Harden said. “We played harder and smarter than game one. That was the only difference.”
Up 26-21 after one quarter, Rockets wouldn’t trail from there. They led 64-50 by halftime, with four players already in double figures.
The result: Rockets 127 (Harden 27, Gordon 27, Tucker 14) bt Warriors 105 (Durant 38, Curry 16). Series tied 1-1 .
