Rockets try to regain edge vs Warriors

HOUSTON – The Houston Rockets have a chance to take their first lead in the Western Conference finals with a victory over the Golden State Warriors on Thursday night.

To do that they’ll need their superstars to step up again, with the pressure on James Harden and Chris Paul to deliver after their big performances in Game 3 spurred Houston to the road victory that tied the best-of-seven series at 2-2.

“We’re back to even,” coach Mike D’Antoni said. “We know what we have to do and see if we can do it against a great team.”

After two blowout losses in this series, including an embarrassing 41-point rout in Game 3, the Rockets know they don’t have any time to celebrate Tuesday’s win. It was a victory that snapped Golden State’s NBA-record 16-game home playoff winning streak.

“We have to get down to normal sea level real quick, because we’ve got a lot of work left,” D’Antoni said. “We know it’s not going to be easy, but also they know now it’s not going to be easy.”