The Houston Rockets advanced to the semifinals of the NBA Western Conference on Tuesday, while the San Antonio Spurs and Utah Jazz were one step away from getting their ticket for that instance.
The Rockets beat the Oklahoma City Thunder 105-99 and reached the Western semi-finals by taking the first-round series 4-1.
The Thunder are now going home after advancing to the Conference finals last year.
OKC’s executioner on this day was the canastero star James Harden, who overflowed with 34 points.
With a 98-91 lead, the Rockets began to eat the clock later, while OKC missed shot after shot.
The Texan quintet was able to overcome the almost triple-double of fellow star Russell Westbrook, who overflowed with a whopping 47 points, 11 rebounds and nine assists.
At one point, Houston was unable to increase their lead and the Thunder reduced it to four points twice in the final seconds, but Harden made two free throws in those two times to move closer to a sure victory and the ticket to the next round of the semifinals. from West.
After scoring 20 points in the third quarter, Westbrook made just 2 of 11 shots in the fourth quarter in a disappointing end to a stellar season where he became the first player since Oscar Robertson in 1961-62 to average a triple-double. with more than 31.6 points, with 10.7 rebounds and 10.4 assists per game.
He also set an NBA record with 42 triple-doubles to help the Thunder endure the loss of All-Star Kevin Durant in free agency.
Westbrook had 11 rebounds and nine assists to come off just his fourth straight triple-double in this first-round playoff series, but he scored just 5 points in the final quarter.
Lou Williams added 22 points and Patrick Beverley had 15 to help the Rockets exit the first round for the second time in three seasons.
The Rockets now hope they will meet the winner of the series between the Spurs and the Grizzlies, which is tied at two wins each.
In San Antonio, canastero Kawhi Leonard had 28 points and Patty Mills 20 for the Spurs to beat the Grizzlies 116-103 and lead 3-2 in their first-round series in the West.
San Antonio fired 14 of 28 3-pointers, two short of its postseason record, including 5 of 7 by Mills.
The French point guard of the “Espuelas”, Tony Parker, finished with 16 points, while those highlighted by the Grizzlies were Mike Conley, with 26 points, and the Spanish Marc Gasol, with 17.
But the team has been losing nine in a row at the San Antonio grounds.
The series – the best of seven games – now moves to Memphis, where Game 6 will take place on Thursday.
San Antonio shot 53% from the field and Memphis shot 52% in a surprisingly explosive game between teams renowned for their defense.
The teams traded baskets within three minutes before Mills hit three 3-pointers in a row to help open the game for San Antonio in the finals.
After failing to score in the first four games, Argentine Manu Ginobili scored 10 points.
On the other hand, the Utah Jazz beat the Los Angeles Clippers 96-92 and also led their top 3-2, thanks to 27 points from Gordon Heyward.
For the Los Angeles quintet, the best point guard was Chris Paul, who totaled 28 points and nine services for a touchdown. (AFP).
Rockets advance in playoffs, Spurs and Jazz get one step closer
