After Being Held in Check in Houston, Stephen Curry Eyes Breakthrough in Return to Oakland

OAKLAND, California—The 2018 Rockets have succeeded where the 2015 Rockets failed: they've staved off a Stephen Curry takeover long enough to give themselves a fighting chance in the Western Conference finals. Three years ago, Golden State made quick work of Houston, gentleman-sweeping James Harden, Dwight Howard and company out of the West finals in five games. The Warriors exerted total control of that series thanks largely to Curry, who scored 34 points in Game 1, 33 points in Game 2 and delivered a back-breaking 40-point explosion in Game 3.