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Houston Rockets Beat Golden State Warriors In Record 3-Point Barrage

By Mark Vandeusen

May 25, 2015; Houston, TX, USA; Houston Rockets guard James Harden (13) shoots past Golden State Warriors forward Harrison Barnes (40) during the second half in game four of the Western Conference Finals of the NBA Playoffs. at Toyota Center. Mandatory Credit: Troy Taormina-USA TODAY Sports
May 25, 2015; Houston, TX, USA; Houston Rockets guard James Harden (13) shoots past Golden State Warriors forward Harrison Barnes (40) during the second half in game four of the Western Conference Finals of the NBA Playoffs. at Toyota Center. Mandatory Credit: Troy Taormina-USA TODAY Sports /
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Monday night in Houston, the Rockets knocked off the Golden State Warriors 128-115 to avoid a sweep and extend the Western Conference Finals to Game 5.  Houston was led by a playoff career-high 45 points from James Harden, who shot 7-for-11 from three-point land.

The Rockets scored 45 points in the first quarter, matching the 1985 Los Angeles Lakers and the 1986 Dallas Mavericks for the most points ever in the first period of a playoff game.  Houston built a 45-22 lead in large part by knocking down eight of its first nine three-point attempts.

Despite the enormous early deficit, the Warriors got within six points in the fourth quarter.  A missed three-pointer from Leandro Barbosa could’ve made the score 104-101 with less than eight minutes remaining.

Golden State shot its way back into the game with a three-point deluge of its own, finishing 20-for-46 on long range attempts.  The 20 made threes tied an NBA playoff record.  It also marked just the 19th occasion in league history than a team hit 20 or more three-pointers in a single game, including both regular season and playoffs (the all-time record is 23).

Only once before had a club connected on 20 treys and still lost–the New Jersey Nets on Jan. 11, 2012.

The Rockets were able to hang on and win with the help of 17 made three-pointers, finishing the evening 17-of-32, for 53.1 percent.  In postseason history, no team had ever lost when making 17 or more triples, the Warriors are now the first to do so.  In fact, there are only eight previous instances of a club making 17 or more threes in a playoff contest.

Houston and Golden State just became the ninth and 10th teams to accomplish that feat, and they did it in the same game.

The 37 combined three-pointers is the most ever made in a postseason game.

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