Rockets are moving on after win
The Houston Rockets are headed to the Western Conference semifinals after using strong defense and a balanced scoring attack to overcome another big game by Russell Westbrook and eliminate the Oklahoma City Thunder with a 105-99 victory in Game 5 on Tuesday night in Houston.
James Harden had 34 points while Westbrook piled up 47 and came up one assist shy of his fourth straight triple-double. But the Rockets didn’t allow anyone else to score more than 11 points while getting 22 from Lou Williams, 15 from Patrick Beverley and 14 from Nene.
The Thunder head home a year after advancing to the Western Conference finals after Houston took this series 4-1 despite struggling from three-point range.
“Everything isn’t always going to be perfect,” Harden said. “You’ve got guys that step up and help you make big plays, always have your back. We’re not worried about our shooting, our shooting is going to come.”
Houston missed 31 of its 37 three-point shots.
After scoring 20 points in the third quarter, Westbrook made just two of 11 fourthquarter shots in a disappointing end to a stellar season in which he became the first player since Oscar Robertson in 1961-62 to average a triple-double by scoring an NBA-best 31.6 points a game, with 10.7 rebounds and 10.4 assists. He also set an NBA record for most triple-doubles with 42.
“Coming out of the halftime and in that third quarter he was obviously spectacular,” Thunder coach Billy Donovan said. “He was the reason why we got back into it and took a sevenpoint lead. He has been a phenomenal closer for us all year long. You can’t expect a guy to be perfect every single time.”
Westbrook had 11 rebounds and nine assists but he made just five of a careerhigh 18 three-pointers.
“I consider it a good season. I think from myself to every guy down in that locker room did an amazing job all year long,” Westbrook said. “We can be nothing but proud of them. I’m just happy to have the opportunity to play with all these guys. They do an amazing job of making the game easy for me.”
at San Antonio 116, Memphis 103: Kawhi Leonard scored 28 points and the Spurs rebounded from two discouraging road losses to beat the Grizzlies and take a 3-2 lead in their first-round Western Conference series.
San Antonio made 14 of 28 three-point shots, two off its postseason record. Patty Mills made five of seven three-pointers and scored 20 points. Tony Parker added 16 for the Spurs.
Mike Conley had 26 points and Marc Gasol 17 for the Grizzlies, who have lost nine straight postseason games in San Antonio.