Basketball: Golden State force series decider

Golden State Warriors guard Klay Thompson. Photo / AP

Klay Thompson hit nine three-pointers and scored 35 points, the Warriors held James Harden down in the second half, and Golden State rallied from an early 17-point deficit to stave off elimination with a 115-86 victory over the Houston Rockets yesterday to force a deciding game seven in the NBA Western Conference finals.

Stephen Curry added 29 points and five threes on a night Harden dazzled for long stretches with 32 points, nine assists and seven rebounds, while backcourt mate Chris Paul sat out sidelined by a strained right hamstring.

Kevin Durant struggled with his stroke at 6-for-17 but still scored 23 points as the defending champions kept their repeat quest alive by thoroughly outplaying Houston in the second half.

The Warriors out-scored the Rockets 55-20 in the second half before both coaches subbed their key players with 4m 28s left.

A dynamic, star-studded series projected to be as captivating and compelling as the NBA finals is going the distance. Game seven is tomorrow back in Houston.

"I don't want to go home," Thompson said. "We worked too hard this season to go home. And this is what we play for."

The Warriors used another of their signature third quarters to take an 84-77 advantage going into the final 12 minutes, then maintained that dominant level this time down the stretch.

- AP