Warriors’ Kevin Durant on getting over Game 4 loss to Rockets

No, it wasn’t “Never wear a tin hat in a lightning storm”, although that has merit.

Yet observers can be forgiven for questioning the Warriors’ destiny.

Stephen Curry led Golden State with 28 points on 10-of-26 shooting while Kevin Durant added 27 points and 12 rebounds and Draymond Green had 11 points, 14 rebounds and eight assists.

Although they lost home court advantage in the best of 7 series Warriors fans need not worry; the series is tied at 2-2. After falling to the Warriors in five games in consecutive postseasons, the Rockets have finally cleared one hurdle. Defense became Knick-like. The extra pass became a memory.

That was especially evident on Monday night as the Cavs scored 50 points in the paint and out-rebounded the Celtics 60-45. Isolations, very bad shots and turnovers reigned.

“She already sent me two home videos, showing me the clip and playing it back”, Curry told ESPN.

And maybe he sent a little message: These Rockets are for real and very much remain in the championship chase. Golden State had won an NBA-record 16 straight postseason games at home, dating back to the start of the 2017 playoffs. This is the task sitting on Houston’s shoulders ahead of tonight’s game.

“We’re a team. We’re really good as a team”, Harden said. “Houston should be confident”. Now, let’s see if they can do the seemingly impossible and get two more.

Golden State has played at their best when the pressure is on.

The Warriors will adjust and tinker. Warriors coach Steve Kerr later referred to the game as “trench warfare”.

“I know what we’re capable of and I know the level of focus and intensity that this team brings when that is the case”, he said.

“You look at how the game went”, Steph Curry said after the 95-92 loss evened the Western Conference finals at 2-2, with the series shifting to Houston for Game 5 Thursday.

“It’s all about toughness right now”, Rockets coach Mike D’Antoni said, after his team showed that trait in spades.

At the stoppages in play, during the timeouts, D’Antoni scanned his players’ faces for signs of exhaustion.

“He realizes that this is an unbelievable opportunity that we can not let pass us”, one Rockets source told The Undefeated.

Those decisions left the Warriors vulnerable to precisely the position they found themselves in Tuesday night. One, it’s the turning point where Houston finally gets over the hump and wins a title after years of nearly.

“We’re a confident team”.

“It got Oracle going”, he said.

“It was there for our taking”. Make Golden State work to score; don’t do them any favors. Not to get into the weeds, but this changes the entire complexion of the series, which, before 9 p.m. last night most people assumed would end soon and with certainty. This has been the scheme against Golden State, and the Rockets have the athletic and versatile personnel to do it.