Paulwills Thunder to Game 7 vs. Rockets
LAKE BUENA VISTA, FLA. — The last time the Houston Rockets played a Game 7, they didn’t have Chris Paul and they wound up losing.
Paul wants to see history repeat itself.
TheformerHoustonguard simplyhas willed fifth-seeded OklahomaCityintoadeciding game of itsWestern Conferencefirst-roundseriesagainst the fourth-seeded Rockets, with Game 7 — the last game of the opening round of this postseason— set to be played tonight.
“Ain’t nothing like it,” Paul said.
The winner moves on to Game 1 of a West semifinal series against the top-seeded Los Angeles Lakers on Friday night. The loser leaves the NBA’s restart bubble at Walt DisneyWorld and goes home, certain to be lamenting a chance that got away.
Houston might already be dealingwithsomeregret. The Rockets had a six-point lead with the ball with 4:01 left in Game 6, a perfect chance to close out the game and the series. Theygotoutscored12-2 therestoftheway, missingsix of their last seven shots and turning the ball over three times in that span.
“We played about as bad as we can play,” Houston coach Mike D’Antoni said. “And we were right there. ... We’re going to respond.”
The Rockets’ most recent appearance in a Game 7 was the Western Conference finals in 2018, the year theywasted a 3-2 series lead againstGolden State— falling after Paul was lost for the last two games of that series with
a hamstring injury.
Paul was traded by Houston to the Thunder in July 2019 for Westbrook; draft picks were also involved. It was viewed as a rebuilding move for Oklahoma City, but with Paul leading the way, the Thunder have a chance to reach the second round for the first time since 2016.
“We’renotreadytogoyet,” saidPaul, whowillbeappearing in his seventh Game 7 — he’s 3-3 in his first six such appearances inthosegames. “Our team, we have had a memorable season, a lot of ups and downs and all that.
We’re just going to continue to fight. Wewouldn’t have it any other way.”
By the time the Rockets and Thunder play Game 7 of their first-round series, there will have been four second-round games played in the Eastern Conference — including the first game of today’sdoubleheader, where the fifth-seeded Miami Heat will look to take a 2-0 series lead on the top-seeded Milwaukee Bucks.
“You have two really good teams,” Heat coach Erik Spoelstra said. “We won Game 1. That’s it.”
Jimmy Butler had a playoff career-high 40 points for theHeat in their 115-104 win in Game 1.
BucksstarGiannisAntetokounmpo, the reigning NBA MVP and newly crowned Defensive Player of the Year, bristled after the gamewhen asked why he didn’t guard Butler down the stretch. But thatwas one of many issues for Antetokounmpoto think about after Game 1; hewas 4 for 12 fromthe foul line and managed a low-for-him 18 points in 37 minutes.
Itwasthesecondtimesince March2thatAntetokounmpo
played more than 30 minutes and scored less than 20 points. Bothwere against Miami.
“You’ve got tounderstand, you’re playing basketball,” Antetokounmposaid.“Things don’t always go your way.”
A look at today’s games:
HEAT VS. BUCKS
Miami leads 1-0. Game 2, 6:30 p.m., ESPN.
■ NEED TO KNOW: The Heat have won 25 of their last 31 series in which they hold a one-game lead at any point. The Bucks have won two consecutive series after droppingGame1s, rallying to beat Orlando this season and Boston last season.
■ KEEP AN EYEON: Heat G Duncan Robinson made only one 3-pointer inGame1, andthatwas of thebanked-in variety. Expect Miami to try to get him in rhythm early in Game 2.
■ INJURYWATCH: Bucks G Eric Bledsoe (hamstring) missed Game 1, costing Milwaukee a top defender.
■ PRESSURE ISON: Antetokounmpo. He’s likely to soon become a two-time MVP and needs a bounceback night.
THUNDER VS. ROCKETS
Series tied 3-3. Game 7, 9 p.m., ESPN.
■ NEED TO KNOW: Both teams have 47-31 records this season; 44-28 in the regular season, 3-3 so far in the playoffs. The Thunder havewon five of the nine head-to-head matchups.
■ KEEPANEYEON: Houston’s turnovers. When the Rockets have 14 or more turnovers, they’re 0-3 in this series. When they keep it below 14 turnovers, they’re 3-0.
■ INJURYWATCH: Rockets GRussellWestbrook shot the ball better inGame6 than he did in Game 5; he was 8 for 15 from the fieldMonday, as opposed to 3 for 13 in his first gamebackfromaquadinjury. But he had seven turnovers in Game 6, suggesting he’s not in his typical groove yet.
■ PRESSUREISON: Houston. They came into this season as a title contender; the Thunderhavebeenasurprise story. If the Rockets lose this game, who knowswhat happens this offseason.