Houston Rockets have seized back control of the Western Conference finals, shocking NBA champions Golden State 95-92 on the road to tie their series at 2-2.
The Rockets began the best-of-seven match-up with home court advantage, after compiling a league-best 65-17 record through the regular season.
They conceded that edge when they lost the opening encounter in Houston, but this latest result sees them grab the advantage back, heading home for Game Five on Friday (NZ time).
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The Warriors shot out of the blocks to score the opening 12 points of the contest and seemed headed for another regulation home victory - they were 7-0 at Oracle Arena during the 2018 playoffs before this fixture.
But Houston outscored their rivals 34-18 in the second quarter, taking a seven-point lead into halftime.
The Warriors produced an eight-point run midway through the third period to retake the lead and built that margin to 12 points early in the fourth, before Houston made their winning drive down the stretch.
A three-pointer and a pair of free throws from Trevor Ariza put them ahead with little more than five minutes remaining, and they were able to stifle any further comeback from the Warriors.
Golden State guard Steph Curry couldn't get a potential game-tying three-pointer off before the final buzzer sounded.
Guards James Harden (30 points) and Chris Paul (27 points) led the Rockets, while Curry (28 points/six three-pointers) and Kevin Durant (27 points/12 rebounds) were the Warriors' best.
Newshub.
