Golden State Warriors: 3 takeaways from Game 4 vs. Rockets

The Golden State Warriors got outscored 25-12 by the Houston Rockets in the fourth quarter, losing Game 4 of the Western Conference Finals, 95-92. Here are our takeaways from the series-shifting collapse.

For the first time since Kevin Durant joined the Golden State Warriors, the NBA title is up for grabs.

After blowing multiple double-digit leads to the Houston Rockets in a 95-92 Game 4 loss, the two teams find themselves in a best-of-three scenario. Though the Warriors are still the favorites, they’ll have to win a Game 5 or Game 7 in Houston to win the series.

That’s assuming they protect home-court in Game 6, which no longer feels like a forgone conclusion. After a slumberous Game 3, James Harden exploded for 24 in the first half of Game 4. He had only six in the second half (30 total in the game), but his early work — highlighted by shockingly aggressive defense and a vicious poster over Draymond Green — proved to be contagious.

Chris Paul scored 27 points over the final three quarters, and massive second half efforts from Gerald Green, Eric Gordon and P.J. Tucker were enough to get Houston the road win it needed.

Golden State’s stars played well enough to win, mostly. Kevin Durant had 27 points and 12 boards, while Green added 11 points, 14 rebounds and eight assists. Stephen Curry scored 28 points, including a 17-point third quarter that seemed to all but end the series.

In the fourth, everything fell apart. That final quarter, and its implications, will be the focus of our Game 4 takeaways.