First-round win a steppingstone toward Warriors

Bring on the next round. These Rockets need a real test. The first round? Unpredictable. On and off and on. Everything this 65-win team is supposed to be. And a reminder the NBA’s No. 1 seed has work to do.

The Rockets technically did exactly what they needed to Wednesday night at Toyota Center, taking down Minnesota 122-104 in Game 5 and shutting down the Timberwolves’ season, winning a Western Conference first-round series 4-1.

It was also a second consecutive contest of flipping a thirdquarter switch.

That worked against the West’s No. 8 seed. A game after pushing his team to a historic 50-point period, James “MVP” Harden again ignited the Rock-

ets with 15 third-quarter points.

“I hope it’s 4-1 in the second round, too,” Rockets coach Mike D’Antoni said. “I’ll take this all the way through.”

Golden State also won its first-round series 4-1. The Rockets could get premier defender Luc Mbah a Moute back during the next round and have a few days off to fine-tune their inconsistent rhythm.

Big picture: A season-long collision course between the Rockets and Warriors remains on target.

The Rockets’ first-round battle was also a reminder of how powerful this team can be — and the fact there is room to grow.

“I’m striving for perfection. … overall, I’ll nitpick at them. But it’s a pretty good performance,” D’Antoni said.

Harden went off for 44 in Game 1 and the Rockets recorded two blowouts before Game 5 arrived, then blew out the Timberwolves again. But in Game 3, Minnesota threatened to turn upside down what initially felt like a highly predictable series, after a 121-105 blowout in Minneapolis.

With Jimmy Butler, Karl-Anthony Towns and Andrew Wiggins, the Timberwolves had enough talent to hang with the Rockets when everything clicked. But when D’Antoni’s squad kicked in the turbo and played like a 65-win team, the promise of the second round immediately appeared in the Rockets’ sights.

“We know they’re a great team. And we’ve had two bad quarters against them,” said coach Tom Thibodeau, before another bad quarter for Minnesota on Wednesday. “Against a team like this, you can’t have a lull.”

The Timberwolves again remained close early in Game 5, taking a 12-10 advantage after back-to-back 3s from Jeff Teague, who was a non-factor in Game 4 following a finger injury.

Rockets center Clint Capela regained his Game 1 form, pounding in eight first-quarter points on 4-of-5 shooting while collecting four rebounds.

“I thought he was incredible,” said D’Antoni, referring to a center who finished with a game-high 26 points and 15 rebounds.

But it was 26-25 Minnesota heading into the second and Thibodeau’s team displayed its toughness.

A team-first Utah squad led Russell Westbrook, Paul George and Carmelo Anthony 56-41 at halftime in Oklahoma City with the second round on the line. The Rockets trailed the Timberwolves 59-55, with Harden again off-target: five points on 2-of-9 shooting.

After the disappointment of Game 3, D’Antoni called out his team, pushing for intensity and emotion. Following the loss, veteran guard Chris Paul was adamant that a lack of defense was the biggest problem.

All three were again issues during the first half Wednesday, as the Rockets allowed 28 points in the paint and were often a step behind the Timberwolves.

The setup was simple for the Rockets. Take care of business and close out Minnesota in five. Immediately begin preparing for the brilliance of rookie Donovan Mitchell and the gritty Jazz or the Thunder’s star trio — OKC mounted a fiery comeback in Game 5 — remaining in Houston through Game 2 of the second round, rather than flying north again to face another night of pressure in Minneapolis.

Another night, another game-changing third quarter.

Harden flipped the switch, the Rockets rolled off a 10-2 run in just 2:43 and Thibodeau was forced to stop the action to keep a 65-win team in sight.

The Beard blew by Taj Gibson, sank a top-of-the-key 3, dished to Capela for a smooth 2 and blew by Wiggins for a strong layup.

Harden lifted his arms as Toyota Center roared. Then the league’s expected MVP flexed for a crowd chanting “MVP.”

The Rockets had the Timberwolves right where they wanted them.

“Sooner or later, he is going to figure it out,” D’Antoni said. “And he might figure it out immediately or it might take him a quarter or two quarters. It might take him to the next game. Who knows? But, again, one of the best offensive guys ever.”

To end up where they believe they belong, there is work to be done.

This Rockets team — special, electric, dangerous when it all clicks — can be better. But winning four more games in the second round is now the only thing keeping the 65-win Rockets from returning to the Western Conference finals.