Oklahoma City Thunder vs Houston Rockets Box Score on Apr 25, 2017

The Sports Xchange
Apr 25, 2017

HOUSTON -- Lou Williams scored 10 points during an opening burst in the fourth quarter, and James Harden finished with a team-high 34 points as the Houston Rockets rallied for a 105-99 victory over the Oklahoma City Thunder on Tuesday night at Toyota Center to claim their Western Conference first-round playoff series in five games.

Williams opened the fourth with two free throws and added three more from the line plus a deep 3-pointer that pushed the Houston lead to 86-81. The Rockets once again made progress with Thunder guard Russell Westbrook on the bench, holding onto their lead even after Westbrook re-entered the game with 9:09 left.

Westbrook amassed 47 points, 11 rebounds and nine assists but shot 2 of 11 in the final period, 0 for 5 from behind the arc, after carrying the Thunder to the lead in the third. Not one of his teammates finished with more than 11 points.

Harden shot 16 of 17 from the free-throw line. Williams totaled 22 points, while guard Patrick Beverley added 15 points and eight rebounds. Eric Gordon and Nene combined for 22 points off the bench as Rockets' reserves posted a 44-22 edge over the Thunder's bench.

After surging to a 61-50 lead on a second-chance basket by Beverley, the Rockets went ice cold, converting just three baskets the remainder of the period. Westbrook was sensational in response, scoring 10 consecutive points during one stretch before assisting on a Steven Adams floater for a 69-68 lead. Westbrook produced 20 points, five rebounds and three assists in the period as Oklahoma City carried a 77-72 lead into the fourth.

The Rockets discussed reversing their trend of sluggish starts but it was more of the same, with Houston shooting 7 for 21 in the first quarter, including 1 of 7 on 3-point attempts. Westbrook, meanwhile, was brilliant, pouring in 13 points by looking exclusively for his shot. Westbrook finished with just one assist in the period.

Houston didn't find its proficiency from deep in the second quarter but did connect on 10 of 16 shots inside the arc to produce a 35-point period. Predictably the Thunder hit a lull with Westbrook on the bench, surrendered the lead with haste, and needed Westbrook to go off in the third quarter to forge back ahead.

NOTES: Rockets owner Leslie Alexander confronted official Bill Kennedy during game action in the first half. Alexander walked from his courtside seat and said something to Kennedy before returning to sit down. Alexander refused comment on what exactly he said but acknowledged that he was "upset." ... Thunder C Enes Kanter, a lightning rod throughout the series, logged just three minutes, all in the first half. He did not score, and he committed two fouls. ... The Rockets finished plus-16 with Thunder G Russell Westbrook on the bench.