The Golden State Warriors have opened the Western Conference finals with a 110-106 win over the Houston Rockets at the Oracle Arena.

The Rockets, who needed a seventh game against the Los Angeles Clippers to secure their place in the conference finals, appeared to be in control early on, opening up a 16-point advantage midway through the second quarter.

Shaun Livingston started to get the home side back into the game though, adding four free throws and a layup to cut the gap, before Harrison Barnes and Stephen Curry edged the top seeds in front.

James Harden and Trevor Ariza kept the Rockets close throughout the third quarter as the Warriors tried to pull away, but they remained five points ahead going into the fourth.

Harden tied the scores with just over five minutes remaining in the final period, but Curry and Klay Thompson did enough in the final moments to put the win beyond doubt.

The Warriors host game two tomorrow.