Chris Paul's 33 points helps Rockets top the Warriors

Posted: January 20, 2018 -- 11:55 pm CST.

HOUSTON, TX (Toyota Center) -- Chris Paul put on a show and stuffed the stat sheet with 33 points, 11 rebounds, 7 assists, and 3 steals to lead the Rockets to a 116-108 win over the Golden State Warriors Saturday night.

With the win tonight, the Rockets win the season series against the Warriors 2-1. The Warriors won all three of the previous season series (10-1 combined record). The Rockets snap a 7-game losing streak to the Warriors. The win snapped the Warriors' 14-game road winning streak.

"Well, it's been a good streak. Disappointing end to it," said Warriors Head Coach Steve Kerr. "But, we didn't deserve to win tonight. We played pretty poorly. Did a lot of things to hurt ourselves; and, we're playing a great team. Can't get away with it."

"To beat a champion like them, you got to knock them out. They're not just going to lose," said Rockets Head Coach Mike D'Antoni during his post-game press conference.

"Guys just stepped up. P.J. (Tucker) stepped up. It's a man's game; and, he stepped up. He had the guts to go in and fire them up. Did it.

"James (Harden) hits the dagger. Chris Paul was unbelievable the whole game. I mean there's just a lot of good things; and Luc (Mbah a Moute) was excellent again. So, there's just a lot of good things; and, we can get better."

Harden scored 22 points including a dagger step back three-point basket (despite good defense from Steph Curry) with 1:10 remaining in the game to give the Rockets a 114-108 lead.

Harden said he wasn't planning to take the shot over Curry.

"No, I was trying to get the best shot. That's what I work on," Harden said calmly after the game.

The Rockets improve to 17-0 when Clint Capela, James Harden, and Chris Paul play together this season.

Clint Capela scored 18 points tonight and added 5 rebounds plus a career-high tying 4 steals. Capela has scored 15 or more points in nine of his past 13 games played. The Rockets are 15-2 when Capela scores 15 or more points this season.

The Rockets won despite allowing the Warriors to hit 17 3-pointers on 47.2% shooting. Since the 2014-'15 season, Golden State is 30-2 when hitting 17 plus three-point field goals, with the only other loss coming to the Boston Celtics April 1, 2016. Over that span, the Warriors are 140-9 when shooting 40.0% or better from behind the three-point line. Two of those losses have come come against the Rockets this season.

The Rockets led 92-91 after three quarters.

In the final minutes of the fourth quarter, the Warriors committed four turnovers in a two minute span; but, the Rockets only led 109-106 with 3:16 remaining in the game.

The Warriors committed six of their 19 turnovers in the fourth quarter.

"I think we had 19 (turnovers); and, they scored 23 points off them," Kerr lamented. "It seemed like we kept making one silly play after another; forced passes; and, we always talk about hitting singles. We were trying to hit home runs all night; and, (we) can't do that against these guys. On the bright side, we know we can play a lot better; and, we will."

Kevin Durant nailed a tough fadeaway shot to cut the Rockets' lead to 109-108; but, P.J. Tucker sank a 11-foot floater for a 111-108 lead with 2:43 on the clock.

After Klay Thompson missed three consecutive shots, Harden swished three-point shot over Curry.

Steph Curry (6 for 20) and Thompson (3 for 11) made only 9 of 31 field goal attempts.

Curry's 6 for 20 is just the sixth time in his career that he has attempted 20 or more shots while making six or fewer shots. The Warriors are 1-5 in those six games.

"Just one of those nights. One of those nights," Kerr added. "I mean it happens. Rarely happens to both of them on the same night."

P.J. Tucker scored 12 points and grabbed 7 rebounds off the bench. In the season opener, Tucker scored 20 points and had 6 rebounds in the Rockets' win. Houston is 5-1 when Tucker scores in double-digits this season.

The Rockets next game is Monday, January 22, versus the Miami Heat. Tip is set for 7 p.m.

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