It wasn't exactly pretty, but the Houston Rockets gutted out a 113-109 victory over the Oklahoma City Thunder to take a commanding 3-1 lead in their first-round playoff series.
Despite the poor effort, the Rockets were able to get support from Nene, who scored a team-high 28 points off the bench where he tied a National Basketball Association record for making 12 shots without a miss.
Reporter: Russell, I'm not trying to split you up, but twice in three games you guys have not played well at all when you've gone to the bench, and I'm just trying to figure out what's going on. We in this together, we play as a team, and that's all that matters. "We will continue to trust in each other and our abilities to stay a team and stay as one". But that also says something about both the character and chemistry of this group that they can grab these wins over a fellow playoff team featuring the league's MVP while at no point appearing at their best. As much as it pains me to say that as I could watch these two teams go at it in a best-of-99 and not get exhausted of it, I really do think that Houston closes this thing out on Tuesday night. The Thunder had a double-digit first-half lead for the third straight first quarter.
Houston has a chance to close out the series Tuesday at home in Game 5.
The Oklahoma City Thunder's season is on the brink after losing a critical Game 4 to the Houston Rockets on Sunday. Even if it's unlikely that Adams would have given anything other than a stock answer about everyone needing to pick it up, Westbrook only reinforces the idea that he can't relinquish control. For the series, the Thunder are plus-3 with Westbrook, and minus-40 without him. He rebounded his missed second free throw and found Westbrook for a 3-pointer that cut Houstons lead to one point. The six-time All-Star is doing everything he can to get the Thunder into the second round, but they simply don't have the depth to match the Rockets.
Sonny Perdue Becomes 31st U.S. Agriculture Secretary
Trump has reached out to farmers on regulation, saying the government has too many rules that negatively affect farm country. After months without an agriculture secretary, Perdue will be sworn in early Tuesday.
Oklahoma City used a familiar formula to earn a 58-54 edge at halftime: heavy doses of Westbrook (17 points, 10 rebounds, and 10 assists) and just enough from the rest of the roster to make it work. Al Horford scored 18 points, Isaiah Thomas and Crowder added 16 each as five Celtics players scored in double figures.
The Thunder controlled the game, leading for 39:45 of the game's 48 minutes.
CAVS MOVE ON: LeBron James made a 3 with 68 seconds left and the Cavaliers hung on for a 106-102 win over the host Pacers, sweeping the series in four games. "I felt like I had good shots in Game 2".
Enter Adams. After being sent to the line with 21s remaining, he coolly slotted the first, then deliberately missed the second, gathered the rebound and tossed it to Westbrook who drained a deep three to make it 108-107.
NOTES: Rockets G Patrick Beverley was fined $25,000 Sunday for confronting a fan at Oklahoma City's Chesapeake Energy Arena following Friday's Game 2. Adams went 6 for 6 from the field in the first half.
Comments