It was an intense showdown in Game Six of the Western Conference Semifinals as the Golden State Warriors faced off against the Houston Rockets. The California team went on to defeat the Rockets by five points, proving to naysayers that the championship squad was still capable of advancing to the NBA Playoff's Western Conference Finals without Kevin Durant. The team's star player was tapped as the leading scorer in the entire playoffs, but a right calf strain injury kept him off the court and out of the game.
Warriors coach Steve Kerr was disappointed that Durant would have to sit out the Rockets series but was confident in Durant's return. "Calf strain, he's had them before," Kerr said. "He's responded well. Obviously, we're disappointed he won't be able to play in this series. If we're able to win the series and move on, looks good for his return in the not-too-distant future."
Meanwhile, in the first half of Game Six against the Rockets, Warriors point guard Steph Curry stunned the Playoff audience when he didn't score a single point in the first half. However, the basketball star returned to drop 33 points in the second, "his most in any half in the playoffs & the most by a player in the 2nd half after going scoreless in the 1st half in the last 20 postseasons," according to the ESPN stats info Twitter.
"That game personified Steph Curry," Kerr said in a post-game interview. "He's just fearless. That's what makes him who he is." Klay Thompson wrapped with 27 points, which is certainly nothing to sneeze at, and Andre Iguodala was the third top scorer, finishing with 17. "Not going to swear tonight," Kerr said following the win. "They're giants. They're champions. These guys are a historically good basketball team. You do not do what these guys have done without an incredible combination of talent and character."