The Golden State Warriors produced a determined effort to survive the Houston Rockets in match 3 of this first round series of the Western Conference without Jimmy Butler on Saturday, with the reward for their perseverance manifested in Butler carrying Golden State in the section and through the finish line in match 4 on Monday.
Helved by an injury to the lower body suffered in the second match, which put it aside in match 3, Butler propelled the Warriors to a 109-106 victory in match 4 and a 3-1 advance in the Best Of-Seven series.
Golden State can eliminate the Rockets on Wednesday with a victory in Houston, an army of the knowledge with which they triumphed and without butler, although the first option is much more attractive.
Butler committed a summit of 27 points with five rebounds and six assists on Monday. He finished 12 of the 12 of the free throw line and obtained the decisive rebound after the Center des Rockets Alperen Sengun failed in decreasing moments with the opportunity to provide Houston.
Acquired in Miami Heat on the deadline for trade in February, Butler continues to deliver in any way imaginable for the Warriors.
“We have a big atmosphere here,” said the Warriors coach Steve Kerr. “Steph (curry) gives an incredible tone. Jimmy arrived, he was instantly welcomed by Steph and the group, and vice versa. Jimmy really wanted to be here.
“It’s just a great, great match. He was exactly what we needed. We gave him a group of guys to play with what I think he really likes. Yes, it was fun to see everything is going.”
The second seeded rockets have much less fun by working opposite Butler. The inexperience of Houston continues to show at the most inappropriate moment, whether to the charitable organization Stripe – Houston missed 35 free throws in the series – or in near and late situations.
The Warriors have outlined nine points in the series – with a more cumulative plus -15 in the fourth quarters of their three victories – and continuously displayed the ability to run at both ends when the winning time is beckon.
“The guys have broken down,” said Rockets coach Ime Udoka. “But they understand that the game we played well – the only four match – we had an eruption victory, and other games, it was a game with a possession often, or we had a fourth quarter and not well.
“Coherence wins in this series, and we talked about it from the first day, and we must be much more consistent in all areas. The plan is obviously to go home and get one and come back (in San Francisco).”
Given the trajectory of this series, this could prove to be an intimidating task for rockets. Their young nucleus of Sangun, Jalen Green, Amen Thompson and Tari Eason played irregularly. Conversely, the Warriors relied on their great experience in the playoffs to see them.
The final victory will be the most difficult. From this truth, warriors are very aware.
“You don’t want to play with the game,” said Curry. “You understand that closing games are extremely difficult due to despair on the other side, try to do it on the road is even more difficult.
“It doesn’t mean you have to play perfectly. You don’t want to come with this mentality. Oh, if we miss the shooting early, if they take place early, you don’t want to put it in your head. It’s a long game. Be resilient, relentless. You have to be disciplined more than anything. I think that is our biggest challenge.”
– field level media