Oklahoma City, OK

James Harden scored 31 points, hitting 7-for-9 in the 3 point area, to lead the Houston Rockets to a 107-100 victory over the Oklahoma City Thunder.

The win is the second for the Rockets after losing the first three in their first-round playoff series.

They also got 21 points and 11 rebounds from Omer Asik; 18 points, including five 3-pointers, from Francisco Garcia; 14 points from Patrick Beverley; and 10 points each from and Aaron Brooks and Chandler Parsons.

Playing without injured starting point guard Jeremy Lin and missing key reserve Carlos Delfino in the second half, the Rockets made 14 three-pointers on 35 attempts.

Kevin Durant hit the free throw to complete a string of eight straight Thunder points and put them up 17-16, but the Rockets responded with its own 8-0 run and wouldn't trail again.

The Rockets led by 16 points twice in the third quarter at 66-50 and 76-60 and held double digit leads for most of the fourth when the Thunder resorted to intentionally fouling Asik with 5:33 to play.

A 54 percent career foul shooter, Asik went 8-for-12 from the line, extending Houston's lead to 101-92 with 3:53 remaining.

Durant said the scheme slowed their rhythm down.

While the Thunder outscored the Rockets in the paint, in second-chance points and on the fast break, but made just 8 of 33 from 3-point range

They were led by Durant, who scored 36 points but was scoreless in the fourth quarter, missing all five of his shots. Reggie Jackson contributed 20 points.

The Thunder continues to struggle with Russell Westbrook's absence that limit its ability to score on the break.

 

James Harden Leads Rockets in Cutting Thunder Series Lead to 3-2

 

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