Western Conf. Finals - Game 3: Houston Rockets 85-126 Golden State Warriors - 5 Talking Points

When asked after Game 2 if he was healthy, Steph Curry responded by saying he felt great and boy was he great in the 2nd half of Game 3 back at home. Curry overcame a slow start to finish with 35 points and Kevin Durant added 25 as the Warriors bludgeoned the Rockets to take a 2-1 lead in the Western Conference Finals.

James Harden led a floundering Houston offense with just 20 points, while Clint Capela and Chris Paul had 13 each.

Here are top 5 talking points from the game:

#5 Huge turnover differential

James Harden and Klay Thompson

While the Golden State Warriors are known for their brilliant ball movement, they are also pretty well known for carelessly turning the ball over, but that was not the case in Game 3. They turned it over just 8 times, while on the flip side, the Houston Rockets had their highest turnover total in the playoffs with 20. Turnovers often play a big role in deciding the outcome of games and this one was no different.

As Houston kept turning it over, it allowed Golden State to get out on the fast break and wreck havoc. After allowing just 7 fast break points in Game 2, they let in 19 in this one. The Warriors don't lose too many games when they win the turnover battle and the Rockets will have to force a lot more than they did in Game 3 if they are to level up this series.

#4 Chris Paul has a stinker

Draymond Green and Chris Paul

Much like Curry, Paul had some injury concerns heading into Game 3. He experienced some discomfort in his left calf at the end of Game 2 but brushed aside those concerns saying he was good to go. That certainly didn't seem the case. Paul struggled mightily in the first half, going 1/7 for 3 points. His only basket actually was due to a goaltend by Iguodala and the ball didn't look like it was going in. He also only had one assist and had two turnovers at the halfway point.

Paul did seem to get out of the funk in the 2nd half but it was way too late by then, as the Curry eruption had all but killed the game off. Mike D'Antoni said postgame that Paul had no injury concerns and I'd certainly hope that is the case but it sure didn't look that way.

#3 The Rockets offense crumbles

Iguodala, Gordon, Thompson, and Harden

Houston probably wasn't going to shoot over 50%+ from the field in back-to-back games against Golden State but I didn't seem them drop off like this. One of the most potent offenses we've ever seen shot just 39% from the field and 32% from 3. Golden State once again flaunted their defensive might, and just like in Game 1, forced the Rockets to run down the shot clock time and time again.

The Rockets failed to muster up 25 points in any of the quarters, a rarity this season and the 85 points they scored was their lowest in these playoffs and the 2nd lowest for the season as a whole. It's not unusual for teams that live and die by the 3 like Houston to have some bad nights but this was their worst in quite some time.

Golden State, on the other hand, shot over 50% from the field and 40% from 3. After a strong defensive showing in Game 2, the Rockets reverted back to their Game 1 selves. A lot has to improve in time for Game 4.

#2 James Harden's bizarre trend continues

James Harden

If you just consider the Game 1's of these playoffs, James Harden would be in the midst of a mythical playoff run. The Beard has averaged 42 points on 54% shooting in the three Game 1s in this postseason but inexplicably goes into a shell after that. He's averaged just 24 a game on less than 50% shooting in the rest of the games and that trend continued in Game 3.

Harden finished with 20 Points on 7/16 shooting and like his backcourt mate was a virtual no-show in the 1st half. They both combined to shoot 4/15 from the field, 1/6 from 3 and had just 14 points at the half. Paul at least gets somewhat of a pass considering his injury concerns but Harden does not.

The only saving grace was that he at least had 9 assists, but add in the 4 turnovers and it's a so and so performance overall. Houston definitely needs Game 1 Harden to show up in Game 4 or else they will be done for good.

#1 Steph Curry finally steps up

Steph Curry

After a sub-par performance in Game 1, followed by a stinker in Game 2, we finally had a Steph Curry sighting in Game 3 and it was a joy to watch. Like Paul, he started off slowly and had just 9 points at the half. He looked out of sorts and even missed two wide-open 3s in succession. Curry ended the half shooting 3/11 from the field and 1/7 from 3.

Then the switch suddenly flipped in the 2nd half. He scored 18 in the 3rd quarter alone, shooting 7/7 from the floor, fuelling yet another 3rd quarter explosion for the Warriors as they killed the Game off. He finished with 26 points in the 2nd half, torching the Rockets defense in the critical phase which all but ended the game as a contest. Kevin Durant continued his strong showing this series with 25 points and should this game be a turning point for Curry, then it's curtains for the Rockets.