Harden helps Rockets Stay Alive

HOUSTON (AP) _ James Harden scored a playoff career-high 45 points and the
Houston Rockets led from start to finish to avoid elimination in the Western
Conference finals with a 128-115 victory over the Golden State Warriors in Game
4 on Monday night.

The Rockets used a 45-point first quarter to build a big lead. They were up by
22 in the second quarter when Stephen Curry landed on his head in a nasty spill
and missed about 12 minutes before returning.

His first field goal after returning came on a 3-pointer that got Golden State
within six points with less than 8 1/2 minutes remaining. But Harden, who had 17
points in the fourth quarter, scored the next seven points as part of 10
straight by Houston to push the lead to 114-98.

Klay Thompson had 24 points and Curry added 23 for Golden State, which can
reach the NBA Finals with a victory at home on Wednesday.

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