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Harden returns to haunt Thunder
Source: AFP |
May 3, 2013, Friday
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JAMES Harden scored 31 points as Houston kept its NBA first-round playoff hopes alive with a 107-100 win over Oklahoma City in Game 5 on Wednesday.
Playing against his former Thunder teammates, Harden drained his first seven three-point attempts for the youthful Rockets who now trail the best-of-seven series 2-3.
"The guys are battling," said Houston coach Kevin McHale. "You got to go out there and fight every single night."
Harden, who helped lead the Thunder to the NBA finals last season where they lost to the Miami Heat, shot just four-of-25 from three-point range in the first four games against Oklahoma City.
Houston played without starting point guard Jeremy Lin for the second straight game because of a bruised chest muscle.
But the Thunder missed All-Star point guard Russell Westbrook even more on Wednesday. Westbrook tore his lateral meniscus, underwent surgery and is done for the season.
The teams head back to Houston for Game 6 of the Western Conference series today.
The Rockets will be trying to make history in this series as no NBA team has ever come back from being down 0-3 to win a best-of-seven series.
"We got another opportunity at home and we are going to take advantage of it," Harden said. "Tomorrow we will watch some film and get ready for Game 6."
Turkey's Omer Asik finished with 21 points and 11 rebounds but his biggest impact came on the free-throw line down the stretch.
Asik made 13-of-18 free throws as he helped keep Houston in control late in the fourth quarter with the Thunder looking to foul him at every opportunity.
Kevin Durant was held scoreless in the fourth quarter and finished with 36 points, seven rebounds and seven assists for the Thunder.
Elsewhere, the Boston Celtics beat the New York Knicks 92-86, slicing their deficit in the series to 2-3. Indiana also holds a slim 3-2 advantage after a 106-83 home win over the Atlanta Hawks.
Playing against his former Thunder teammates, Harden drained his first seven three-point attempts for the youthful Rockets who now trail the best-of-seven series 2-3.
"The guys are battling," said Houston coach Kevin McHale. "You got to go out there and fight every single night."
Harden, who helped lead the Thunder to the NBA finals last season where they lost to the Miami Heat, shot just four-of-25 from three-point range in the first four games against Oklahoma City.
Houston played without starting point guard Jeremy Lin for the second straight game because of a bruised chest muscle.
But the Thunder missed All-Star point guard Russell Westbrook even more on Wednesday. Westbrook tore his lateral meniscus, underwent surgery and is done for the season.
The teams head back to Houston for Game 6 of the Western Conference series today.
The Rockets will be trying to make history in this series as no NBA team has ever come back from being down 0-3 to win a best-of-seven series.
"We got another opportunity at home and we are going to take advantage of it," Harden said. "Tomorrow we will watch some film and get ready for Game 6."
Turkey's Omer Asik finished with 21 points and 11 rebounds but his biggest impact came on the free-throw line down the stretch.
Asik made 13-of-18 free throws as he helped keep Houston in control late in the fourth quarter with the Thunder looking to foul him at every opportunity.
Kevin Durant was held scoreless in the fourth quarter and finished with 36 points, seven rebounds and seven assists for the Thunder.
Elsewhere, the Boston Celtics beat the New York Knicks 92-86, slicing their deficit in the series to 2-3. Indiana also holds a slim 3-2 advantage after a 106-83 home win over the Atlanta Hawks.
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