CITY FIND JAMES HARD TO GET PAST IN PLAY-OFFS

Miami, Sept. 3: James Harden’s shooting touch deserted him, but the Houston star came up big on the defensive end in the Rockets’ 104-102 series-clinching win over Oklahoma City in the NBA playoffs on Wednesday.

Harden leapt to block a potential game-winning three-point attempt by Thunder rookie Luguentz Dort with 4.8 seconds remaining as the Rockets held on through a frantic finish to win the best-of-seven Western Conference series four games to three and book a second-round showdown with LeBron James and the Los Angeles Lakers.

In a closely contested game, Houston took the lead for good, 103-102, on PJ Tucker’s driving basket with 1:25 remaining.

The ball changed hands several times before the Thunder got it into the hands of Dort, whose dream night was ended by Harden’s big block.

Houston’s Robert Covington drained with 1.4 seconds left to make it 104-102.

Then Harden was called for a foul on Danilo Gallinari before the ball was inbounded, giving the Thunder a free throw and the ball. Gallinari missed from the foul line and the Thunder turned the ball over on the final inbounds pass. — a free throw