[Sport] Harden finishes off the Thunder and brings the Rockets closer to the conference semifinals

[#Steeven.™]

The Rockets are already one step closer to qualifying after defeating the Thunder 111-98, in a duel that the Houston team did not get back on track until the fourth quarter thanks to a 15-0 run. Shai Gilgeous-Alexander (31 points and 6 rebounds) was a different player from the first game and he maintained hope for his team, along with Gallinari (17 points, 5 rebounds and 4 assists). Harden (21 points, 9 assists and 5 rebounds) for his part finished with a very poor 2/11 in triples -and Eric Gordon 0/10- but pulled his team in the final minutes to lead Billy Donovan's men with 10 points .

 

Most 3s without scoring in a playoff game
1. 1994 John Starks: 11
2. 2018 James Harden: 11
3. 2018 Terry Rozier: 10
4. TODAY Eric Gordon: 10

 

After the hit in the first game, Shai Gilgeous-Alexander had a lot to prove - like Dennis Schroder - and he threw the team behind him. Both the Canadian and the German produced for their team before the break more than in the entire first match. Gilgeous-Alexander scored 9 points in 9 minutes and was perfectly escorted by Gallinari, who is contributing a lot in this series.

Regardless, there were the Rockets, a machine designed by Mike D'Antoni, who set the pace to make 8 of 16 on triples in the first quarter (35-30). Huge hit and zero turnovers. And if Harden came out wanting - then came a drought phase - Austin Rivers was the one who was most in tune in the second act, getting to lift 'la Barba' from his seat on the bench with a spectacular dunk.

The D'Antoni method is spectacular when there is success in the shot, but it also brings out the colors of his players when the triples do not enter as, it happened in the second quarter (2/19). Schroder and Chris Paul had good minutes. 59-53 for Thunder at halftime.

Gilgeous-Alexander's figure was key to keeping Oklahoma afloat in the third quarter, which went on to suffer an 11-0 run despite the erratic Harden. Very close score, 78-77 for Billy Donovan's men, after finishing the third quarter.

It was then that Jeff Green emerged to give wings to Houston and put a distance of 12 points after a 15-0 run, accompanied by 'la Barba', who dedicated himself to distributing the game before his final recital. Danuel House Jr (19 points, 9 rebounds) also showed that he should not be forgotten. In the final minutes, it was Harden who assumed responsibility and ended up aiming for a City Thunder that will have a very difficult comeback.