Houston Rockets show heart, then let big chance slip away in Game 6

The heart was there for three quarters. Seven Rockets fought to cover up for a missing Chris Paul. James Harden dropped in 32 points on a night when The Beard had to reclaim his role as The Man. It still wasn't close to enough. And now the Rockets' yearlong fight against the reigning champion Warriors requires a Game 7 for a final decision. "Nothing changes for us. We know what we have to do," said Harden after a Paul-less team was torched 115-86 by Golden State in Game 6 on Saturday night at Oracle Arena, tying the Western Conference finals at 3-3. The Rockets' scoring by quarter captured a night of declining returns: 39, 22, 16, 9.