Westbrook’s 51 not enough
James Harden scored 35 points and the Houston Rockets overcame 51 points from Russell Westbrook in a triple- double, clawing back from a double- digit deficit for a 115- 111 victory over the visiting Oklahoma City Thunder to take a 2- 0 lead in the Western Conference first- round playoff series.
Westbrook set a franchise playoff scoring record and added 13 assists and 10 rebounds to the most points ever scored in a postseason triple- double. It was the sixth career playoff triple- double for Westbrook, who had an NBA- record 42 in the regular season.
But the Rockets contained him long enough in the fourth quarter to surge ahead, then hold on.
Game 3 is Friday night in Oklahoma City.
The game was tied before Houston scored 10 straight points with three- pointers from Harden, Patrick Beverley and Eric Gordon to make it 114- 104 with 1: 22 left. Westbrook had four straight points to start a 7- 1 run after that, but the Thunder wouldn’t get any closer.
This was a much different game than the series opener, when Houston routed the Thunder 118- 87. On Wednesday night, Houston trailed by 15 and didn’t take a lead until the fourth quarter.
The Rockets benefitted from a balanced scoring attack, with Lou Williams adding 21, Gordon scoring 22 off the bench and Game 1 star Beverley chipping in 15.
Wizards 109, Hawks 101
In a rough- and- tumble, foulfilled game, Bradley Beal took over in the fourth quarter with 16 of his 31 points, including a key late threepointer, helping the Wizards beat the visiting Hawks for a 2- 0 lead in their Eastern Conference firstround series.
John Wall earned chants of “MV- P!” while finishing with 32 points and nine assists, including the dish to Beal for his shot from beyond the arc with 38 seconds remaining that sealed the win for the hosts.
Washington, which trailed 78- 74 entering the final period, won despite only a combined seven points from starting forwards Markieff Morris and Otto Porter Jr., who were both in foul trouble early.
The series now shifts to Atlanta for Game 3 on Saturday.
Paul Millsap led the Hawks with 27 points and 10 rebounds, and Dennis Schroder scored 23 points. But Dwight Howard had only seven rebounds, half his Game 1 total, and six points.
Warriors’ Durant sits Game 2
The Warriors ruled out Kevin Durant for Game 2 against the Trail Blazers. Coach Steve Kerr said Durant is day- to- day.
The star forward suffered a strained left calf in the second half of the Warriors’ Game 1 victory on Sunday.
Players to pay for Fizdale’s fine
Grizzlies point guard Mike Conley says he and his teammates will pay the $ 30,000 fine their coach, David Fizdale, received for criticizing the officiating after the team’s Game 2 loss to the San Antonio Spurs.