Short-handed Spurs humble Houston to advance
LOS ANGELES: The San Antonio Spurs humiliated the Houston Rockets Thursday with a 114-75 game six closeout win that brought James Harden’s MVP- worthy season to a startling halt.
LaMarcus Aldridge paced the offense by scoring 34 points for the short-handed Spurs, who routed the Rockets despite the absence of top scorer Kawhi Leonard and star guard Tony Parker.
“Everybody picked it up. It wasn’t one guy scoring 40 points,” said Spurs coach Gregg Popovich. “They played well at the offensive end with a lot of sense and defensively it was one of our best nights.”
San Antonio won the secondround series in six games and punched their ticket to the Western Conference playoff finals against the Golden State Warriors, which kicks off on Sunday.
Harden’s baffling performance in front of a Houston crowd of 18,050 at the Toyota Centre arena was almost as big a stunner as the Spurs’ winning a NBA playoff elimination contest by a whopping 39 points. The Rockets 75 points was second-lowest in a game during the Harden era.
And the Spurs didn’t need Parker (torn left quadriceps) or Leonard (sore left ankle) to do it.
Jonathon Simmons added 18 points in place of Leonard, while Patty Mills chipped in 14 points and seven assists.
Pau Gasol tallied 10 points with 11 rebounds for San Antonio, which trailed 5-4 in the first quarter before coasting to the win.
San Antonio shot 53 per cent from the field, compiled a 60- 37 rebounding advantage and limited Houston to 28 per cent shooting.
“They feel as bad as I do. It is going to hurt and linger,” said Rockets coach Mike D’Antoni.
Harden was a non- factor Thursday after finishing second in scoring during the season at 29.1 points per game. He did not attempt a shot until the 6:19 mark of the second quarter. — AFP