Houston Rockets Sweep OKC Thunder; Win 115-112

There’s five games to go and the Houston Rockets are looking to ensure that they’re entering the home stretch with a sprint.

So far, things are looking that way with a few bumps along the road.

The rigor of an NBA season is never an easy one and those bumps will be there.

But it’s how a team responds to those said bumps that determines how good a basketball team really has.

There playing excellent basketball down the stretch with nearly all of their bigs back in the mix.

It may be just a bit longer for Donatas Motiejunas‘ return but this team can continue to press on without him.

He has played more minutes than he has in his life and I’m sure his back has taken a beating.

I had a feeling something wasn’t right as his intensity was in spurts, not full tilt as he had one earlier in the season.

But he’ll be a force to be reckoned with once he returns for the playoffs, there’s no need to rush him.

Any way, the Rockets had a game to play today and it was against the Oklahoma City Thunder, a team in a tight race to make the playoffs.

They possess two MVP candidates — James Harden and Russell Westbrook as they hope to lead their team to eventual success.

Here’s how it went down…

The Rockets came out with all pistons firing matching the Thunder bucket-for-bucket until about 6:17 mark of the 1st when Terrence Jones nailed an alley-oop assisted by the Beard knotting the game at 10 a piece.

The Rockets then went on an 11-0 run to lead the Thunder 21-10 after a Josh Smith turnaround jumper with 4:03 left to go.

They would continue to hold on to lead the Thunder at the end of the 1st, 27-17.

Harden/Westbrook watch at the end of the 1st: Harden (8 points) / Westbrook (12 points)

In the 2nd quarter, the Rockets were in control but the Thunder did get within five, most notably when D.J. Augustin hit a three-pointer with 35 seconds left in the half. Rockets 52, Thunder 47

That three-pointer really got the crowd going but the Beard silenced them once again when he hit a three to counter with 13 seconds left, putting the Rockets up 55-47 at the half.

That was already his 17th point of the game.

Harden/Westbrook watch at the end of the 2nd: Harden (17 points) / Westbrook (18 points)

It was more of the same in the third quarter as Dwight Howard was as a slithery as a snake moving around in the low post.

For the first time in awhile, D12 looks fresh out there and looks as if he came off the showroom floor.

He was able to get a quick three-pointer the old-fashioned way by drawing a foul off of Mitch McGary putting the Rockets up 57-48.

The Thunder did pull within five points again after Westbrook sunk two free throws giving him his 27th point for the day. Rockets 78, Thunder 73

But Harden hit yet another three-pointer from up at the top of key to put the Rockets back up 81-73.

The Rockets held on once again to lead the Thunder at the end of the third, 83-77.

Harden/Westbrook watch at the end of the 3rd: Harden (31 points) / Westbrook (29 points)

The Rockets started out the 4th quarter in the same fashion but they allowed the Thunder to knock on their door again with a 9-0 run they put together culminating with a three-pointer by Kyle Singler cutting their deficit to two. Rockets 94, Thunder 92

More from House of Houston

The game was tied at 100-all after Westbrook hit yet another three with 3:12 left to go.

The Beard then started to do some cooking of his own, hitting two three-pointers and a fade away jumper to put the Rockets back up by seven!

That was his 41st point of the day!

But Westbrook answered back with another three-pointer that was extremely deep cutting their deficit to four with 1:02 left. Rockets 108, Thunder 104

On the next play, Harden took one for the team by committing his 6th foul after stopping Westbrook momentum by creating contact running in his path.

There was 33 seconds on the clock and up to the Rockets to win that game without Harden, who had just fouled out.

And they got it done…

After both teams went back-and-forth for those final seconds of the game, the Rockets did what they needed to do by making the majority of their free throws when it counted when sent to the line.

The out-of-bounds play was quite interesting as the Thunder had one more chance to tie with 3.4 seconds left.

Instead of Westbrook going for the three, he lobbed to Kanter to which Trevor Ariza played the defense of his life preventing him from connecting on any basket.

This frustrated Kanter and caused both to jaw off as reps from both teams worked to separate the altercation.

But that’s the kind of lock-down defense Ariza has been playing all season, it’s nothing new and quite understandable why it gives his opponents fits. Final Score: Rockets 115, Thunder 112

Harden led all scorers with 41 points, six rebounds and six assists while Howard had 22 points, eight rebounds and two steals in a very productive 22 minutes of action.

J-Smoove had 14/4 in 26 minutes of action.

Westbrook netted his 11th triple-double with 40 points, 13 assists and 11 rebounds while Kanter had 21/17 and Anthony Morrow had 22 points to add for the Thunder.

What a game that didn’t disappoint; but ultimately, the Beard won this battle!