Jimmy Butler comes up clutch in heated Recreation 4 as Warriors take 3-1 lead vs. Rockets

Jimmy Butler transformed three free throws with 58.7 seconds left, grabbed the game-clinching rebound with 4 seconds to go after which made two extra free throws on the way in which to 27 factors in his return from a pelvic damage, sending the Golden State Warriors previous the Houston Rockets 109-106 on Monday evening in a heated Recreation 4 to take a 3-1 lead within the first-round playoff collection.

Fred VanVleet missed a 3-pointer underneath stress on the buzzer.

The groups return to Houston for Recreation 5 within the best-of-seven collection on Wednesday evening as seventh-seeded Golden State tries to shut out the No. 2 seed Rockets on their house flooring.

Brandin Podziemski scored 26 factors, Stephen Curry completed with 17 within the frantic end and Buddy Hield hit a go-ahead 3-pointer with 3:32 left and scored 15 after becoming a member of the beginning lineup.

Alperen Sengun scored with 40 seconds left for Houston to make it a one-point recreation. He had 31 factors and 10 rebounds, whereas VanVleet hit a tying 3-pointer with 1:20 to play and scored 25 factors.

Butler was again after sitting out Recreation 3 with a pelvic contusion and deep gluteal muscle bruise suffered on a tough fall when he was fouled by Amen Thompson early in Recreation 2.

The second quarter Monday featured 4 technical fouls and a flagrant 1 in two separate tussles, together with shoving throughout one sequence involving Curry, Draymond Inexperienced and Dillon Brooks.

With the sport tied at 36, Curry dribbled down the sideline when Inexperienced put a tough display on Houston’s Amen Thompson. Brooks fouled Curry and he appeared to turn out to be indignant in regards to the push earlier than going at Curry and Inexperienced.

Curry acquired a technical for “taunting” Brooks, who additionally acquired a technical together with Inexperienced. Warriors rookie Quinten Put up and Houston’s Jabari Smith Jr. flailed their arms at one another however prevented technicals upon replay evaluate by the officers.

Then with 2:44 left within the quarter, tempers flared once more. Inexperienced acquired a Flagrant 1 foul for pushing Tari Eason’s face to the bottom and Eason additionally acquired a technical. Inexperienced was dribbling when Eason went for a steal and the ball bought unfastened and each gamers hit the ground making an attempt to corral it. Inexperienced’s left leg was on the Rockets ahead’s neck.

Butler shot 7-for-12 in 40 minutes after he watched Curry overcome a gradual begin to end with 36 factors, 9 assists and 7 rebounds in Golden State’s 104-93 victory Saturday evening with out him.

Reporting by The Related Press.

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