Rockets take 2-0 lead over Thunder
James Harden had 21 points and nine assists and the Rockets made 19 of an NBA-record 56 3-point attempts to beat the Thunder 111-98 on Thursday for a 2-0 lead in the Western Conference firstround series in Lake Buena Vista, Florida.
Former Thunder star Russell Westbrook was out for the Rockets again with a right quad strain, but plenty of other Rockets players picked up the slack. Danuel House Jr. scored 19 points.
Shai Gilgeous-Alexander scored 31 points for the Thunder, and Danilo Gallinari added 17.
The Thunder dominated the second quarter and led 59-53 at halftime. They shot 50% in the half.
The Rockets missed their last 15 3-pointers in the second quarter, and Harden scored just eight points on 2-for-10 shooting in the half.
The fourth-seeded Rockets went on a 13-0 run early in the second half to regain the lead. Gilgeous-Alexander, who had been cold in the bubble, made three straight 3-pointers to highlight an 11-0 run that put the fifth-seeded Thunder ahead again. The Thunder held on and led 78-77 at the end of the third quarter.
The Thunder led 80-77 before the Rockets broke away with a 17-0 run, with just two of the points coming from Harden, the league scoring champion.
Late Wedneday, Jazz pull away for win: Donovan Mitchell remained patient with Denver's defense making things difficult for him.
Instead of forcing the issue, he simply distributed the ball — until his opening arrived.
Mitchell scored 21 of his 30 points in a big third quarter and the Utah Jazz beat the Nuggets 124105 on Wednesday to even the first-round playoff series at a game apiece.
All part of playmaker.
“The biggest thing for me is reading the situation,” Mitchell explained. “My first years, I kind of saw the rim, being a scorer. I prided myself over the quarantine just how to become play-maker. Find a way to get the team involved. It may not always be scoring. I think today, just trusted my teammates.”
Mitchell was an efficient 10 of 14 from the floor and added eight assists. He helped the Jazz break open the game in the third quarter and increase the lead to 31 in the fourth.
His performance was on the heels of scoring a Jazz playoffrecord 57 points in a 135-125 overtime loss in Game 1. Naturally, Mitchell was the focus as the Nuggets tried take away his drives to the right side.
“Anytime you put two guys on the ball, you're going to give something up,” Nuggets coach Michael Malone said.
Mitchell's teammates in a pivotal way.
Jordan Clarkson scored a personal playoff-best 26 points on a day the Jazz shot 51.7% from the floor. They also had 32 assists and hit 20 3-pointers. his maturation as
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