Cubs Jake Arrieta pitches second no-hitter of career SATURDAY, APRIL 23, 2016 APRIL SATURDAY, SportsSports 44

HOUSTON: Patrick Beverley #2 of the takes a forearm from James Michael McAdoo #20 of the in the second half at Toyota Center on Thursday in Houston, Texas. -—AFP Harden fires Rockets past Warriors in Game 3

HOUSTON: The frantic, final moments nearly guard . With Houston out of time- eight rebounds, and , who takes.” Golden State surrendered 20 points off undermined all the Houston Rockets built in outs, Harden followed with a quick dribble, again filled in for Curry, added 16 points. 14 turnovers and missed 19-of-25 three- scratching out a double-digit lead, but James darted into the lane and spun free before nail- attempts. The Rockets sought early energy, Harden took advantage of the disarray by ing a 10-foot jumper. KERR UNHAPPY and already leading 21-15, closed the first doing what he does best. Warriors forward drib- What Speights started in the second quar- period with a 10-3 run. Harden was the linch- Harden nailed a step-back jumper with 2.7 bled the ensuing inbounds pass off his foot ter and carried through the third, Livingston pin, tallying seven consecutive points before seconds left, and the Houston Rockets and out of bounds for a turnover with one picked up in the fourth. Ariza turned a turnover into a transition dunk. claimed a 97-96 victory over the Golden State second left. “A lot of people just get nervous Following a pair of free Harden closed the quarter with a free Warriors in Game Three of a Western and don’t want to be in that situation,” said throws that sliced the Warriors’ deficit to six throw, a pull-up jumper plus a basket follow- Conference first-round playoff series at Harden, who scored a game-high 35 points. points, Livingston added three jumpers, the ing his offensive for a 13-point Toyota Center on Thursday. “For me, I strive in moments like that, so last with 8:59 left to cut it to 81-80. advantage entering the second. The defending champion Warriors, playing you just have to have confidence.” Despite following that spurt with a three- Houston extended to a 53-36 lead when a second consecutive game without All-Star Harden added eight rebounds and nine minute drought, the Warriors hung tough. Jason Terry and Harden sank three-pointers, guard (right ankle sprain), still assists. Donatas Motiejunas produced 14 Trailing 88-80, they rallied with seven consec- but that was when Speights went on his lead the best-of-seven series 2-1 with Game points and 13 rebounds, while Dwight utive points and later took their first lead scorching streak. Four set for Sunday at Toyota Center. Howard also recorded a double-double (13 since 2-0 when Clark nailed a floater with 1:25 The Warriors closed the half with a 9-0 run The Rockets blew a 17-point lead and points and 13 rebounds) plus two blocks. left. “Well, I’m not really encouraged. This is following a technical foul on Howard. trailed with 10.6 seconds left after Trevor Reserve forward led how we were supposed to play,” Warriors Speights drilled his third trey of the half with Ariza threw away an inbounds pass that facili- Golden State with 22 points in 18 minutes. coach said. “We should have actu- 2.4 seconds left to cap his 14-point period and tated a fastbreak by Warriors reserve contributed 17 points and ally played better. We made too many mis- cut the deficit to 55-48 at the break. —Reuters