San Antonio Spurs vs Houston Rockets Box Score on May 07, 2017

The Sports Xchange
May 7, 2017

HOUSTON -- James Harden recorded a double-double, and the Houston Rockets' bench was exceptional in a 125-104 victory over the San Antonio Spurs in Game 4 of a Western Conference semifinal series on Sunday night at Toyota Center.

The Rockets hit 19 of 43 3-point attempts to even the best-of-seven series at 2-2, with the Spurs set to host Game 5 on Tuesday at AT&T Center.

Harden was superb throughout, recording game highs in points (28) and assists (12) to resuscitate an offensive attack that went silent as the Spurs rolled to victories in Games 2 and 3.

Guards Eric Gordon (22 points) and Lou Williams combined to score 35 off the bench for Houston, which received just 10 bench points in Game 3. The Rockets did lose reserve center Nene to a left groin injury. His status for the Game 5 was unknown.

Spurs forwards Kawhi Leonard and LaMarcus Aldridge scored 16 points apiece, while Jonathan Simmons tallied 17 points and Patty Mills 10 points off the San Antonio bench. The Spurs shot 49.4 percent from the floor yet never led.

A fast start set the tone for the Rockets' offensive revival. Harden had eight points, five assists and two steals in the first quarter as Houston turned a breakneck pace into a 34-22 lead entering the second. After recording just four fastbreak points in Game 3, the Rockets managed 13 in the first quarter alone Sunday.

San Antonio managed a pair of runs in the second quarter to draw to within four points, first reeling off a 15-4 burst keyed by Leonard and Pau Gasol that cut the margin to 41-37.

Simmons' basket just inside the final minute of the first half left the Spurs trailing 57-53 at the intermission, but Houston caught fire from deep in the third quarter to extend the lead to 79-61 following four consecutive 3-pointers -- two from Harden and one each from Trevor Ariza (16 points) and Gordon (6 of 9 on 3-point atttempts).

The Rockets bracketed the final two periods with four more 3-pointers. Houston led by as many as 25 down the stretch.

NOTES: The National Basketball Coaches Association on Sunday named Rockets coach Mike D'Antoni a co-recipient of the inaugural Michael H. Goldberg NBCA Coach of the Year Award. D'Antoni shared the honor with Miami Heat coach Erik Spoelstra. D'Antoni led the Rockets to 55 wins in his first season in Houston, trying for the fourth-most victories in franchise history. ... The Spurs fell to 0-37 when entering the fourth quarter of a postseason game trailing by 15 or more points. ... Rockets reserve C Nene logged just two minutes before departing with a left groin injury. He recorded four points and a steal and was transported to a local hospital for an MRI exam.