LOS ANGELES: Andrew Bogut and Aron Baynes were anchored on their benches in different US cities, but the view was the same for the Australian big men as NBA superstars steamrolled their teams.
James Harden dropped 38 points to carry the Houston Rockets to a tense 112-108 win over Bogut's defending NBA champion Golden State Warriors in Houston on Monday.
It squared the series 2-2, with game five of the best-of-seven series at the Warriors' Oracle Arena on Wednesday. The Rockets have the momentum with consecutive wins.
"We have been a resilient team all along, even in the first two games we felt like we had opportunities but we let them slip away," Harden said. "We have to take that same mindset, be aggressive and see how we go."
Kevin Durant led the Warriors with 34 points, including 16 in the third quarter to keep his team within range.
Houston started the final quarter up 93-84, but Durant and Curry made key baskets to cut the deficit to 110-108 to briefly give the hosts some nervous moments with 11 seconds.
Curry shook off a cold start to finish with 30 points while Klay Thompson continued to struggle by contributing 11 points after missing five of six three-point attempts.
Bogut did not leave the bench as Warriors coach Steve Kerr started guard/forward Andre Iguodala in an attempt to keep pace with the Rockets.
When Kerr looked to his reserves he called on mobile forwards Kevon Looney and Jordan Bell.
Baynes's Celtics were left on the verge of elimination after Giannis Antetokounmpo had another monster game for the Milwaukee Bucks in Boston. The Bucks won game four 113-101, to build a 3-1 series lead.
They can finish the Celtics and advance to the Eastern Conference finals series in Wednesday's game five in Milwaukee. Antetokounmpo highlighted his 39-point haul with some ferocious dunks while also grabbing 16 rebounds.
"It is amazing, man," Antetokounmpo said. "The whole group played hard, were ready and stepped up."
After their game three loss on Saturday Boston coach Brad Stevens suggested he would give Baynes more court time in an attempt to control Antetokounmpo, but the big Queenslander was scoreless and had just two rebounds in six minutes.
Kyrie Irving spearheaded Boston with 23 points, but missed six of his seven three-point attempts.
Melbourne-born Irving vowed to keep shooting from long range despite missing 19 of 25 three-point attempts so far this series. Irving, who is rumoured to be interested in moving to the New York Knicks or Los Angeles Lakers, left the court to a lone fan pleading: "Don't leave!"
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