OAKLAND, Calif. _ The Golden State Warriors' 12-game win streak was extinguished late Thursday night in Oracle Arena, put to bed by a Stephen Curry foul, a Draymond Green kick, an inaccurate Kevin Durant and a batch of revitalized Houston Rockets.
Houston outlived the Warriors in an early-season test of survival: 132-127 in double overtime, ending after 11 p.m. local time. The night included 14 lead changes, unbelievable early December NBA drama and, unofficially, about 430 replay reviews. And at the finish line, tired legs and some old habits burned the Warriors.
Durant was incredible through regulation. Trailing 113-111 with 20 seconds left, he navigated into a mismatch on Patrick Beverley, bullied through some physical defense and forced his way to the free throw line.
There, he made both, two of his 12 free throws on this night. It gave him 37 points, along with his 10 rebounds, three steals and two blocks. A James Harden brick sent the game to overtime moments later.
But once there, the heavy early-season minutes seemed to grow heavier on Durant and the Warriors. He played 49 minutes on Thursday night. In the last 10 _ both overtime periods _ Durant went 1-of-7 shooting after sniping his way to an 11-of-21 shooting line in regulation.
And without Durant's lethal shooting, Golden State didn't have much else. Especially in double overtime. Because that's when Curry fouled out, picking up his sixth whistle on a drive late. Montrezl Harrell slid underneath Curry and the bang-bang call went Houston's way.
Had it been called a block, Curry would've been at the line with a chance to put the Warriors up two. Instead, he'd sit the final 3:25, Houston had possession and James Harden would bag a 3 moments later to put the Rockets up three.
But Curry can only blame himself for being put in that situation. In the first quarter, he was whistled for two fouls on the same possession.
Before the game, Kerr was asked the key to beating the Rockets. He began reaching his hand out toward reporters. Don't do this to James Harden, he said. Don't get caught with your hand in the cookie jar.
After Curry fouled Harden jostling for position, the Rockets took the ball out. They inbounded it back to Harden in the corner and Curry committed the sin, reaching his arm in for an unlikely pokeaway. Harden, perhaps the league's most crafty foul magnet, saw the mistake and immediately shot his arms up through Curry.
It was the second of Curry's six fouls and one that would sting in that second overtime. But despite being without their All-Star point guard, the Warriors still had a chance in the closing minutes.
After the Harden 3, Durant misfired on the next two Golden State possessions, but the Rockets failed to get immediate separation. Green bullied his way into a jump ball, continuing his late-game defensive exploits.
Then on the ensuing Warriors possessions, he flew in to grab a Durant miss. But as he rose for the putback, Green's leg went flailing. He was fouled on the play by Harden, but he also inadvertently kicked Harden in the head. After a lengthy review, referees returned with their verdict: personal foul on Harden, but a flagrant on Green.
It was the first time he'd been hit with the Draymond Green rule, named after him because of all his infamous wild kicks in the playoffs last season. Green missed one of his two free throws, Harden nailed both of his and the Rockets had both a four-point lead and possession of the ball.
Eric Gordon deposited a jumper moments later and the Rockets had a six-point lead with 1:53 left. It wasn't insurmountable for Golden State's historic offense. But that historic offense looked nothing of the sort after this game had sapped their energy dry.
Two misses later and the Warriors streak was over, extinguished after a wild night at Oracle Arena.
