OAKLAND, Calif. (AP) — Stephen Curry hit two free throws in the final seconds to finish with 34 points, and the Golden State Warriors rallied from 16 points down in the second quarter to beat the Houston Rockets 110-106 on Tuesday night in Game 1 of the Western Conference finals.
With the Rockets seemingly ready to rout the home team, the Warriors went to a smaller lineup and closed the first half on a 21-4 run. Shaun Livingston scored 14 of his 18 points in the quarter, helping Golden State go ahead 58-55 at halftime.
The Warriors held off Houston in the final minute of the fourth.
James Harden, the runner
up to Curry in the MVP voting, nearly brought the Rockets back after Dwight Howard departed with a left knee injury. Harden finished with 28 points, 11 rebounds, nine assists and four steals.
Game 2 is Thursday night in Oakland.
NHL
ANAHEIM, Calif. (AP) — Marcus Kruger deflected Brent Seabrook’s shot 16:12 into the third overtime and the Chicago Blackhawks evened the Western Conference finals with a 3- 2 victory over the Anaheim Ducks in Game 2 on Tuesday night.
Andrew Shaw and Marian Hossa scored powerplay goals in the opening minutes of the longest game in the Blackhawks’ 89-year history.
Chicago then played nearly 110 consecutive scoreless minutes in the longest game in Honda Center history, but Kruger got in front and made a fortunate deflection past Frederik Andersen, who made a career- high 53 saves.
Shaw attempted to end it during a power play in the second overtime by knocking a rebound into the net with his head in a remarkable soccer-style play, but the goal was illegal.
Game 3 is Thursday night in Chicago.
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