Kevin Durant and the Golden State Warriors delivered on both ends of the court, kept their mouths shut and did their job on their court against James Harden and the Rockets.
Now, the reigning NBA champion travels to Houston with a 2-0 lead in the Western Conference semifinals.
Durant scored 29 points and soon set the defensive rhythm against Harden to lead the Warriors to a 115-109 win over the Rockets, as the focus shifted back to basketball after two days of constant discussions about umpiring.
“Tonight I think it was a very well refereed game,” said Golden State player Draymond Green. “They let us be physicists, both teams, and pointed out what they had to point out. In a sport that I have loved since I was a child, it was a bit disheartening to see that the last two days nothing was said about basketball and there was about fouls. Is this what sport is becoming?
Harden was hit in both eyes but was able to return to the game and finished with 29 points and seven rebounds.
“I could barely see,” said Harden, who was treated with eye drops.
He and Chris Paul were both booed at the Oracle Arena. Following their 104-100 loss in the series opener, the Rockets complained that the umpires did not call a foul when the hosts pressed their 3-point specialists.
Paul celebrated and applauded when Harden fouled Durant in the closing moments of the third quarter on a very similar play. Harden made three free throws that brought his team closer to 82-75 with the final 12 minutes remaining.
Harden scored seven straight points for Houston midway through the fourth quarter, including a triple with 7:25 left that cut the Rockets’ distance to 92-89. Stephen Curry hit a key triple with 6:31 on the scoreboard and finished with 20 points.
Klay Thompson chipped in 21 points and hit consecutive triples late in the third. Draymond Green had 15 points, 12 boards and seven assists.
The Brazilian Nené signed a discreet performance with a rebound in more than four minutes on the court with the Rockets.
Game 3 of the series will be played Saturday in Houston. AP