For the first time since the Western Conference Finals began, fans were treated to a competitive game between the Houston Rockets and Golden State Warriors.
In the end, the Rockets figured out a way to get the job done on the road, winning 95-92 while evening up the series at two games apiece on their way back to Houston for Game 5.
Rockets ruin the Warriors home court and tie the series! pic.twitter.com/dFCqtvtI1P
— Bleacher Report (@BleacherReport) May 23, 2018
The final minutes were complete mayhem at Oracle Arena, as the Warriors tried, in vain, to find their offense while the Rockets did just enough to pull out the win.
It was a very ugly finish, especially for the Warriors.
https://twitter.com/wcdonnell2/status/999130589616902144
https://twitter.com/ChrisSpisak/status/999128119222075392
https://twitter.com/World_Wide_Wob/status/999128323044380672
Warriors panicking. Crazy with that many offensive stars
— Vic Tafur (@VicTafur) May 23, 2018
whew, that last possession was awful for the warriors. awful enough to make you forget the rockets didn't look so hot with the ball, either.
— bomani (@bomani_jones) May 23, 2018
The last 4 minutes of this amazing game has been some of the worst basketball I’ve ever watched #NBAPlayoffs
— ThatsGoodSports (@BrandonPerna) May 23, 2018
Sonya & Dell Curry reaction to Steph's missed shot to tie it up pic.twitter.com/gmjxGaNdC4
— ✶ Ⓜ️𝕒𝕣𝕔𝕦𝕤 ▶️ ✶ (@_MarcusD2_) May 23, 2018
Both teams gave it their all. James Harden and Chris Paul led the Rockets with 30 and 26 points, respectively. Kevin Durant and Stephen Curry did the same for the Warriors, going for 27 and 28 points.
Twitter reacted to the frantic finish, which really sets up a dramatic conclusion to this series, which is now a three-game affair.
THE ROCKETS BEAT THE WARRIORS IN ORACLE
— Eric Rosenthal (@ericsports) May 23, 2018
Uh oh. Looks like we officially have a series
— Carmichael Dave (@CarmichaelDave) May 23, 2018
Big-time win by Rockets. Props! Don’t like how GState handled that last possession, but give Houston credit. Great heart and hustle. We got us a series!
— Chris Broussard (@Chris_Broussard) May 23, 2018
Impressive win by the Rockets. I didn’t think they had this in them.
— Geoff Schwartz (@geoffschwartz) May 23, 2018
Hungrier team won
— Taylor Price (@TaylorPrice) May 23, 2018
Have the Warriors still ruined basketball? Or did they force other teams to step up their games? I'm going with the latter because the Rockets ain't rolling over.
— Michael Lee (@MrMichaelLee) May 23, 2018
To rally from two double-digit deficits, on the road, in a must-win game, is a gear I didn't know the James Harden/Mike D'Antoni Rockets had in them. This is the biggest win of Harden, D'Antoni and Chris Paul's careers.
— Zach Barnett (@zach_barnett) May 23, 2018
We've got a series now. 2-2 pic.twitter.com/OGQl6I0lAe
— The Players' Tribune (@PlayersTribune) May 23, 2018
This win by Houston not only was the first at Oracle in the playoffs in a while, it also snapped a 16-game home winning streak in postseason play by Golden State.
Snaps NBA-record 16 straight home playoff wins by #Warriors.
— Eugene Frenette (@GeneFrenette) May 23, 2018
Rockets the first team to ever beat this super team at oracle also the first team to ever take this super team to 6 at least… LIKE I SAID BUILT FOR THIS
— KFLeXin (@1KFLeXin) May 23, 2018
😂😂😂…. Paint Oracle RED!!! Rockets in 6 @tarheelchaplain #RUNASONE #HTOWN 🚀🚀 pic.twitter.com/go0NXNLtIc
— Cameron O'Neal (@coachoneal_osu) May 23, 2018