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Rockets end Westbrook’s season
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JAMES Harden scored 34 points and the Houston Rockets withstood a furious effort from Oklahoma City star Russell Westbrook to oust the Thunder from the NBA playoffs on Tuesday.
The Rockets beat the Thunder 105-99 to win their best-of-7 Western Conference first-round series 4-1.
Rockets reserve Lou Williams scored 10 of his 22 points early in the fourth quarter as the Rockets responded to a sensational third quarter from Westbrook, who carried his team to a 77-72 lead going into the final period.
Westbrook scored 10 straight points in one stretch and finished with 20 points, 5 rebounds and 3 assists in the third.
But Williams opened the fourth with two free throws, and added three more from the line along with a 3-pointer as the Rockets regained the advantage with Westbrook on the bench — and they held on even after he re-entered the game as the Thunder missed a string of shots.
Westbrook finished with 47 points, 11 rebounds and 9 assists, but connected on just 2 of 11 shots in the final period. The loss brought a close to a historic season for Westbrook, who joined Oscar Robertson as the only players in NBA history to average a triple-double and beat Robertson’s 55-year-old record for most triple-doubles in a regular season with 42.
In withstanding Westbrook, the Rockets showed they have plenty of defensive ability to go with their free-wheeling offense. “We’re not just a 3-point shooting team,” said Harden, who scored 13 of his 34 points in the final 8 minutes. “We get after it on the defensive end. We’re overlooked. We have been all year.”
The Rockets will next face either the San Antonio Spurs or Memphis Grizzlies. The Spurs seized a 3-2 lead in their series with a 116-103 home victory.
The Utah Jazz are also close to advancing after a 96-92 win over the Clippers in Los Angeles gave them a 3-2 lead.
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