NBA playoffs 2019: 3 takeaways from Warriors' Game 5 win over Rockets

The Rockets and Warriors are locked up in possibly the best series of this postseason.

Published : May 09, 2019 12:19 IST

The Rockets and Warriors are locked up in possibly the best series of this postseason.

Golden State took Game 5 in a closely contested 104-99 win at Oracle Arena, but this game was by no means a foregone conclusion for the Warriors to win.

Kevin Durant also left the game with a right calf strain, which could impact him and the team down the line.

Game 6 is scheduled to tip off on Friday in Houston.

Here are three takeaways from the Warriors' Game 5 win

This is the most entertaining series the Warriors have played since their run started

We know — hot take alert. Mainly because everyone will point to Game 7 of the 2016 NBA Finals and the craziness of that series.

Well, if you actually go back and look, there was one good game in that series and it was Game 7. The first six games were decided by an average of 21.3 points. That was not a good series. It was full of blowouts.

Read: Warriors takes series lead, Bucks eliminates Celtics

This one, on the other hand, has been highly contested from the first minute of Game 1 to the last minute of Game 5. No lead is safe as the Warriors erased a 20-point deficit in Game 4 and nearly won while the Rockets did the same thing in Game 5.

The five games have been decided by a total of 24 points. This is a fantastic series between possibly the best two teams in the NBA. Give it the respect it deserves.

Warriors instigate, Rockets respond

No, this isn't a physicality thing, this is about the first and second quarters of this game, which conveniently serve as a microcosm for the entire series.

The Warriors came out firing to start the game opening up a 31-17 lead thanks to Draymond Green. Golden State's forward scored or assisted on 21 points in the first quarter alone. But, Houston didn't back down as it all but erased that lead in the second quarter, cutting it to 40-37 after a string of good possessions.

This series has been right hook after left uppercut followed by a Super Man punch. It has been crazy and competitive and awesome and neither of these teams is showing any sign of backing down.

Kevon Looney may have been the difference

Kevon Looney might not get the attention of the other big names on the Warriors, but he can play a very vital role for the team if the situation falls right. That exact thing happened Wednesday.

In this series, the team that has won the rebounding battle has won every game with Game 4 truly being an example of this — especially on the offensive glass — for Houston. The Rockets kept getting second-chance points and were able to build a lead because of it.

In Game 5, Looney's offensive rebounding helped the Warriors build a lead to start the game, which really helped them down the line as the Rockets were chasing virtually the entire game. Looney finished with nine rebounds, five of which came on the offensive end.

He gave Golden State a lot of second chances in the first quarter and that ultimately was a big difference in the game. Give credit where credit is due. Looney is a big part of this win.

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