Despite their own MVP delivering outstanding performances in the first two games of the Western Conference finals, the Houston Rockets left the Bay empty-handed.
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In Game 2, James Harden brought Houston back from a 17-point deficit in the second quarter and had the ball in his hands with a chance to steal one on the road in the final seconds with the scores at 99-98.
As time wound down, Harden brought the ball up the court before passing to centre Dwight Howard, who promptly gave it right back to the guard.
Harden was then swallowed up by a double team of Klay Thompson and Stephen Curry as they kept the Rockets star from getting a shot off before the buzzer.
Harden finished with another near triple-double of 38 points, 10 rebounds and nine assists, but the botched final play was the lasting memory from a remarkable effort.
How we all felt after last night’s game 
https://t.co/cj3TjFpex6
— Rockets Nation (@Rockets__Nation) May 22, 2015
“Kicking chairs, it’s frustrating,” Harden said. “Frustrating to give the game away like that for myself, but my team-mates and coaches were behind me, just saying that we’re going home to secure home now. Go out there in Game 3.”
It was another missed opportunity for Houston after they blew a 16-point lead in the second quarter of Game 1.
A positive for the Rockets though is the status of Howard. He played 40 minutes in Game 2 and seemed unfazed by the knee sprain he suffered in the series opener, posting a double-double with 19 points and 17 rebounds.
Houston have been strong at home in the post-season, winning six of their seven games on their own floor. They’ll need to capitalise in Game 3 on Saturday night (UAE: +05:00), which is as close to a must-win without the threat of elimination, as no team in NBA history has ever recovered from a 3-0 deficit.
