Curry on fire as Warriors make Western Conference finals

The Golden State Warriors remain on course for a third straight NBA championship after they advanced to the Western Conference finals with a 118-113 win against the Houston Rockets.

Stephen Curry scored all of his 33 points in the second half to help lift his side to a 4-2 series victory and into the conference finals for the fifth season in a row.

The absence of Kevin Durant – injured in game five – appeared to weigh heavy on the Warriors early on as Curry failed to get on the scoreboard in the first half.

But the MVP candidate started to come to life in the third period, adding 10 points, and lit up the fourth.

Klay Thompson also shone with 27 points – 21 of which came in the first half.

James Harden scored 35 points and Chris Paul added 27, but it was not enough to keep Houston's season alive.

The Rockets have been eliminated by Golden State in the play-offs in four of the past five years.

The Warriors will meet either the Denver Nuggets or the Portland Trail Blazers in the Western Conference final.