Patrick Beverley to play in Game 4 after grandfather dies

Nene's torn groin muscle ended his season and could make the series, now reduced to best-of three heading into Tuesday's Game 5 in San Antonio, even more about speed and shooting against size and strength.

"I wish I was that smart and I could figure that out", Rockets coach Mike D'Antoni said.

Montrezl Harrell, a second-year player who averaged 9.1 points and 3.8 rebounds during the regular season, is another option to back up at center, even though he has played only 18 minutes during the postseason. Dekker had 10 points and seven rebounds in that December game and played in the first half on Sunday after Nene went out.

The Spurs shot a robust 49.4 per cent from the floor yet never led, overrun by a Rockets three-point barrage similar to what unfolded in Houston's Game One win.

First of all, outside starting center Clint Capela, Nene is the team's only forward capable of really wreaking havoc at the five position. For the game the Spurs had just two more rebounds than the Rockets (43-41), and although Pau Gasol had success on the offensive glass against Anderson, the Rockets kept pace with San Antonio due to the spread out offensive attack they unleashed on the Spurs. To the Rockets' credit, though, they rebounded almost 91 percent of San Antonio's misses in Game 4 with Anderson at center. Harden could have easily driven past the big man and challenged at the rim, but that would be playing into San Antonio's hand.

"If they don't know, we're obviously going into battle with the wrong guys", D'Antoni said. Gordon was especially efficient, scoring 22 points on 8-of-13 shooting, highlighted by 3s on back-to-back possessions to begin the fourth quarter that essentially eliminated any hope the Spurs had of mounting a serious comeback.

After getting hammered in a 27-point loss in Game 1, the Spurs have turned it around by focusing as much on scoring efficiently as they have on limiting James Harden and Co. "We just got to play our game and play with a sense of urgency". (Friday in Game 3) we did not do that.

That's fine in the long run, if the Rockets get a long run. I tried to go out there and play as hard as I could for my teammates tonight man. The hosts trimmed the gap to four points at halftime, but a 34-23 third quarter from the Rockets would prove decisive as they carved out a 125-104 win. "When they play their big lineups and we can get stops and run them".

Rockets reserve center Nene logged just two minutes before departing with an injury.

Nene, a 15-year veteran, emerged as a key role player during his first season with the Rockets. "Make or miss, I don't care".

The victor of Game 5 will win this series. "I think we have to communicate better in transition and try to get to shooters better", Spurs forward LaMarcus Aldridge said after Game 4.

As far as D'Antoni is concerned, the solution was simple: Play fast.