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Rockets vs Warriors Game 3 Preview Notes
InsideHoops.comMay 20, 2018
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Tonight’s game is Game 3 of the 2018 NBA Playoffs Western Conference Finals, Golden State (2nd seed in the Western Conference) is tied with Houston (1st seed), 1-1, in the best-of-seven series.
KEY WARRIORS PLAYERS:
Stephen Curry
LAST GAME: 16 points (7-19 FG, 1-8 3pt, 1-1 FT), 7 rebounds, 7 assists at Houston (G2)... ... Came of the bench for just the 8th time in his career, including twice in the postseason, to record 28 points (8-15 FG, 5-10 3pt, 7-7 FT), 7 rebounds, 2 assists, 3 steals in 27 minutes in the Game 3 win vs. New Orleans (5/1).
... Currently in 3rd-place on NBA all-time playoffs 3-pointers made list with 331; only Ray Allen (385) and LeBron James (351) have made more.
... Has made a 3-pointer in 81 consecutive playoff games, the NBA all-time playoffs record 3
Klay Thompson
LAST GAME: 8 points (3-11 FG, 2-4 3pt), 2 rebounds, 2 assists, 2 steals at Houston (G2). ... With 48 career playoff blocks, is 1 shy of tying Clifford Ray (49) for 4th on the Warriors all-time playoffs blocks list. ... Has made all 20 of his free throw attempts in the postseason, 1st in free throw percentage in the playoffs... Only player in this year’s playoffs to make all of his free throw attempts (min. 10 FTA). ... In the 2018 NBA Playoffs, is ranked 19th in scoring and 1st in catch-and-shoot points per game (10.6).
Kevin Durant
LAST GAME: game-high and 2018 playoff-high-tying 38 points (13-22 FG, 3-7 3pt, 9-9 FT) and 3 rebounds at Houston (G2). ... Has scored 37 or more points in 3 of the last 4 games (averaging 34.3 points per game in that span). ... Currently ranked 4th all-time in scoring average (28.84 ppg) in NBA Playoffs history; LeBron James is 5th (28.68 ppg). ... Has scored 20 or more points in 12 straight playoff games in this year’s playoffs, and has a 19-playoff game 20-point streak dating back to Game 3 of last year’s Western Conference Finals series vs. San Antonio (scored 20 or more in last seven playoff games in 2017)... Durant’s 19-game 20-point playoff streak is the longest for the Warriors franchise in the last 50 years.
Draymond Green
LAST GAME: 6 points (2-5 FG, 0-2 3pt, 2-2 FT), 6 rebounds, 6 assists, 2 steals, 2 blocks at Houston (G2). ... Has recorded at least 100 points, 100 rebounds and 100 assists in the 2018 playoffs, marking the 4th time he has reached the century mark in those categories, becoming the 9th player in NBA history to do so. ... Averaged a triple-double in the Western Conference Semifinals with 14.8 points, 11.8 rebounds and 10.0 assists, becoming the first Warriors player in franchise history to ever average a triple-double in a postseason series, according to the Elias Sports Bureau... It was the 13th time in NBA Playoffs history a player averaged a triple-double in a series. ... Has franchise-record 26 triple-doubles in playoffs and regular season combined (22 regular season, 4 playoffs)... Warriors are 26-0 when Green has a triple-double. ... In the NBA Playoffs, is ranked 4th in assists, 6th in rebounds, 7th in steals and 8th in blocks per game.
Andre Iguodala
LAST GAME: 5 points (2-4 FG, 0-1 3pt, 1-2 FT), 6 rebounds, 1 assist at Houston (G2). ... Has started last 4 playoff games... Since 2014-15, Warriors are 13-4 in the playoff games he has started. ... Ranked 8th in assists per turnover ratio (2.85) in the 2018 Playoffs (was 10th during the 2017-18 regular season).
KEY ROCKETS PLAYERS
Chris Paul
Has an assist-to-turnover ratio of 6.20 over the past five games, up from 2.33 the first seven games of the postseason… ranked fifth in the NBA in assist-to-turnover ratio (3.57) during the regular season… has more steals (25) than turnovers (23) this postseason.
James Harden
Had 27 points with 10 rebounds in Game 2, marking his fourth double-double of the postseason… has scored at least 24 points in 10 of the 12 games this postseason… 3-15 3FGs in Game 2 (5-9 in Game 1); shot 9-of-18 from 3 in 2 GP vs. G.S. during the regular season.
Eric Gordon
Had 27 points in Game 2, marking the second-highest point total of his playoff career (29 for New Orleans vs. Golden State on 4/25/15) … averaging 4.5 3FGM on 56.3% shooting this series… shot 2-of-24 from 3-point range in the three regular season games vs. G.S.
P.J. Tucker
Had a playoff career-high 22 points on 8-of-9 shooting in Game 2 after scoring one point on 0-of-3 shooting in Game 1… his regular season-high was 20 points in the opener at Golden State… including the regular season, Houston is 20-2 when he scores 10+ points.
Trevor Ariza
Had a playoff-high 19 points on 7-of-9 shooting in Game 2 after averaging 5.3 ppg on 31.6% shooting the three games prior… also had a playoff-high 6 assists after having a total of 3 assists the six games prior… has 12 steals with 3 turnovers this postseason.
Clint Capela
Did not record a block in Game 2 after having 2+ blocks in each of the five games prior… still averaging an NBA-high 2.50 bpg overall this postseason… shooting 8-of-10 from the floor this series but is averaging 8.5 points (14.4 ppg the first two rounds combined).