Westbrook’s 45 lead Thunder back from brink
Russell Westbrook scored 45 points and the Thunder rallied from 25 points down in the second half to fight off elimination and beat the Jazz 107-99 on Wednesday night in Oklahoma City.
Westbrook also had 15 rebounds and seven assists. Paul George added 34 points and eight rebounds.
Utah takes a 3-2 lead back to Salt Lake City for Game 6 on Friday.
Oklahoma City took advantage after Utah’s post players, Rudy Gobert and Derrick Favors, got into foul trouble. Both finished with five fouls, and Oklahoma City was able to get to the basket consistently for the first time in the series.
Jae Crowder had a career playoff-high 27 points for Utah. Donovan Mitchell scored 23 points, and Joe Ingles added 16.
Utah opened the second half on an 8-1 run to go up 64-42, and Crowder’s 3pointer made it 71-46 with 8:34 left in the third quarter .
Westbrook hit back-toback 3-pointers, then made a layup with 5:07 left in the third quarter to cut Utah’s lead to 73-60. Gobert picked up his fifth foul with 3:46 left in the third quarter. Westbrook’s 3pointer tied the game at 78 heading into the fourth quarter. Westbrook scored 20 points in the third quarter
Westbrook scored immediately at the start of the fourth to finally put the Thunder in front. Back-toback threes by Westbrook and Alex Abrines put Oklahoma City up 96-91, and a jumper by Westbrook with 1:24 left put Oklahoma City up 107-99.
Raptors 108, Wizards 98
In Toronto, the Raptors rode a seldom-used lineup to move within a game of advancing in the NBA playoffs.
DeMar DeRozan scored 32 points, Kyle Lowry had 17 points and 10 assists and the Raptors beat the Wizards in Game 5.
Toronto rebounded after losing Games 3 and 4 in Washington. Game 6 is Friday night in Washington..
Rockets 122, T’wolves 104
In Houston, Clint Capela had 26 points and 15 rebounds, James Harden added 24 points and Houston pulled away in the third quarter to finish off Minnesota in five games.
Houston will await the winner of the Utah-Oklahoma City series. The topseeded Rockets are headed to the second round for the second year in a row after taking care of the eighth-seeded Timberwolves.