In this collision of NBA Most Valuable Player award candidates, James Harden was decidedly better during Houston’s Game 1 blowout of the Thunder.
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HOUSTON (AP) – Russell Westbrook put up gaudy numbers on Wednesday night.
It left Westbrook with a gaudy box score, but he and his teammates without the win. The final statline was gaudy-51 points, 10 rebounds, 13 assists and a 55.3 usage rate-but the Rockets pulled away in the last 12 minutes, and they now own a comfortable 2-0 lead as the series shifts north.
With Houston packing the paint in the series opener Sunday, daring anyone but Westbrook to beat them, Westbrook had one of his most ineffective games of the year. More than half of the Thunder’s possessions are ending in one of Westbrook’s shots, his turnovers or him getting fouled while he’s on the floor. He effectively involved his teammates in the first half, but the Thunder’s fourth-quarter offense was a one-man show that didn’t end well. With another sub-par performance, the Rockets had to come up in the clutch to close out the victory. The Rockets can’t count on outlier occurrences like super-efficient Beverley games and 40+ point games from the Gordon/Williams duo. When you’re dealing with the two players who have ostensibly had the two best seasons (since they’re presumably going 1-2 for MVP), that’s what you’re looking for.
Washington led 51-43 at halftime. Before Houston could muster a second field goal, a Nene dunk with 6:04 left in the first, the Thunder led 20-9.
“They had a great start and it was great composure on our part to stay within the game”, said Gordon, who totalled 22 points and four rebounds in 30 minutes.
April 16, 2017; Houston, TX, USA; Houston Rockets guard Patrick Beverley (2) reacts after making a basket during the third quarter against the Oklahoma City Thunder in game one of the first round of the 2017 NBA Playoffs at Toyota Center. Having a high assist count means that you cannot only score but also give your teammates ample opportunity to score as well.
The Houston Rockets and Oklahoma City Thunder meet in game three of the National Basketball Association first round playoffs Friday at the Chesapeake Energy Arena.
The only reason the Thunder were leading for the first three quarters was because of Westbrook. Houston was 5 for 8 from deep in the fourth quarter. However, it was James Harden’s Houston Rockets that managed to take a 2-0 series lead.
On Wednesday, the Cleveland Cavaliers have the chance to open up a 3-0 lead against the Indiana Pacers.
Victor Oladipo struggled with his shot, too, to the tune of 1-for-12 for 6 points.
Harden admitted he was passive at times in the first half before changing his mindset in the second.
Harden led the Rockets with 35 points, needing just 17 shots to get it, while Eric Gordon and Lou Williams led a 3-man bench unit that outscored the Thunder 50-24. James Harden had another big game, posting 37 points with seven rebounds and nine assists. Rookie Patrick McCaw earned his first playoff start in place of Durant and had nine points and five rebounds.
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Westbrook typically sits out the final few minutes of the third quarter and first few minutes of the fourth quarter. He takes the majority of shots on his team. In 2013, Beverley’s aggression resulted in a Westbrook knee injury that would require three surgeries. It didn’t appear to be a deliberate elbow from Beverley, but he does have a knack for inflicting pain on the Thunder star.
