NBA January 04/2018 behind us

Two really good games in 4th January.


Houston Rockets vs Golden State Warriors   (114:124)

The Warriors and Rockets were each down a superstar entering this game. Houston’s James Harden missed the game with a hamstring strain, and the Dubs were without Kevin Durant due to a strained calf. 

An 8-0 run to close the third quarter set the stage for an impressive fourth quarter and the Dubs walked out of Houston with a 124-114 win on Thursday night.

Stephen Curry vs Chris Paul

In Durant’s absence, Stephen Curry and Klay Thompson delivered a classic “Splash Brothers” game, combining to score 57 points with 10 three-pointers. It was Curry who came out the gate continuing his scoring flurry since returning back from injury. But as the game went on, Thompson caught fire and never cooled off.

But the Rockets had the perfect counter in Chris Paul and Eric Gordon, as they combined for 58 points themselves. Gordon especially came out strong and helped fill the scoring void left behind in Harden’s absence.

GSW: Curry 29, Thompson 28, Green 17

Hou: Gordon 30, Green 29, Paul 28

Stephen Curry

Los Angeles Clippers vs Oklahoma City Thunder   (117:127)

OKC used a 12-0 run in the fourth quarter to beat Clippers.

If that wasn’t the decisive stretch in this one, it certainly was a vital burst as the Thunder took control in a 127-117 victory over the Clippers on the second night of an LA-LA back-to-back.

After getting knocked back in the second quarter, the unit of Huestis, Patterson, Raymond Felton, Jerami Grant and Terrance Ferguson changed the game in the final frame. 

“(The second unit) got it going. They ran offense, they played incredible defense,” forward Carmelo Anthony reviewed. “They executed what they were trying to do out there and got us into 12-0 run. That sparked something for us and then we came back in and finished the game off.”

Paul George

“We brought a little physicality. We just played really good defense down the stretch,” George said. “They still made some baskets but we made them work for a lot of it and it resulted in a win.”

George led all scorers with 31 points on 12-for-16 shooting while also chipping in six rebounds, three assists

“I was just playing within the offense, making myself available,” George said. “Russ is as good as anybody in the league at finding people. I just had to get open.”

Anthony knocked down 9-of-12 shots on his way to 22 points, but it was Westbrook who again stirred the cup all game, dishing out 11 assists while also racking up 29 points and 12 rebounds for his 13th triple-double of the season.

Russell Westbrook

After lost game LA Clippers

“It was just tough tonight because we need Lou to play the point guard and to score at the same time and you could see his shots got flat,” Doc Rivers said. “They just wore him down.

“We’ll figure it out by Saturday, I guess. When you have your three point guards out, we just can’t have Lou bringing the ball up all game. So even if we use Blake as the guy that brings the ball up the floor, we literally don’t have another guy right now.”

Jordan tried with 26 points and 17 rebounds, Griffin did his part with 24 points, nine rebounds and seven assists. Williams had 26 points and 10 assists, but made only eight of 22 shots.