After dropping two games in Houston against the Rockets, the Golden State Warriors returned to a raucous Oracle Arena Wednesday night for a critical Game 5 in the Western Conference Semifinals series.
The back-to-back and reigning champions came out hot and closed the first quarter with a commanding 31-17 lead after leading by as many as 18 points. The Rockets clawed their way back into it and tied the Warriors in second-quarter points, 26-26.
In the third quarter, the Rockets flipped the script because the Warriors did what they often do in the third: slump. Houston finished the third quarter 29-15 — a 14-point advantage to match the 14-point edge the Warriors had after the first.
Thus, the score would be settled in the final frame, with the Golden State Warriors putting up five more points than the Houston Rockets for the 104-99 victory and a chance to clinch the series in Friday night’s Game 6.
On Wednesday night in the Eastern Conference, the Milwaukee Bucks finished their series against the Boston Celtics by method of obliteration and a final score of 116-91.
Milwaukee will face Toronto in the Eastern Conference Finals if the Raptors can close their series against the Philadelphia 76ers tonight with a decisive Game 6 victory.
