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NBA Playoffs Game 5: Houston Rockets Seize Series; Beat Dallas Mavs 104-93

By Brian K. Patterson

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Apr 28, 2015; Houston, TX, USA; Houston Rockets guard James Harden (13) reacts after a play during the fourth quarter against the Dallas Mavericks in game five of the first round of the NBA Playoffs at Toyota Center. The Rockets defeated the Mavericks 103-94 to win the series 4-1. Mandatory Credit: Troy Taormina-USA TODAY Sports

WE DID IT!

For the first time since 2009, more than six years ago, your Houston Rockets are going to advance to the 2nd round!

I knew this day was eventually going to come and I’m absolutely thrilled that the day has arrived!

This was a closeout game at home with all of the variables in the Rockets’ favor.

They needed to finish this series here and not go back to Dallas for Game 6 because had the Mavericks won, then it would’ve been a best-of-three series.

The Rockets could’ve been potentially backed into a corner where anything could happen and the series could’ve slipped through their hands.

Well, that’s not happening.

You can obviously tell that this team is quite different because they actually take care of and settle unfinished business.

Let’s talk about how they did that tonight.

The Rockets came out with the pedal to floor with Jason Terry being able a get a quick layup after Trevor Ariza helped gain the Rockets the opening possession.

The game was quite close early-in until Dwight Howard and James Harden went to work to put together a 5-0 run to put the Rockets up by five with 5:56 left.  Rockets 16, Mavs 11

They continued to maintain control throughout the 1st to push their lead further being up 31-22 at the end of the quarter.

The same momentum continued from the start of the 2nd quarter capping it off with an incredible but systematic alley-oop by Howard from Josh Smith.  Rockets 35, Mavs 24

We’ve come to known that this move is automatic for the two and there’s really no way that the Mavericks can stop it once that play gets going.

Even Pablo Prigioni joined the party with a ‘ol swisheroo of a three-pointer that he made with 8:48 left. Rockets 40, Mavs 30

That shot came at the perfect time — he was open, he timed it just right and the Rockets benefited from that possession.

I can’t say that every Rockets player does that.

*cough* *cough* J-Smoove!

But in all seriousness he’s getting better with his shot selection — I hope he realizes how important having that skill is because it mitigates turnovers!

The Mavs got even colder from the floor not scoring a field goal until the 2:35 mark off a Tyson Chandler put-back dunk.

All of their points came off free throws at that point.

That just goes to credit on how well the Rockets were able to defend the perimeter and not allow easy transition buckets, you know, the things that caused them to lose Game 4 Sunday.

On the other hand, the Mavs’ defense was non-existent as both teams were guilty of doing a tad bit more freelance offense than I’d like to see.

It seemed that the Rockets were the ultimate beneficiaries in terms of capitalizing on the missed shots/turnovers the Mavs had.

They also had 12 second-chance points versus the Mavericks two.

There was a brief, emotional exchange between Howard and Dirk Nowitzki when Howard was called for an offensive foul when trying to get set up in the post.

Howard honestly just lifted up his forearm when the two collided but Nowitzki sold his flop and referee Tony Brothers bought it causing D12 to look dejected in disbelief.

The two had some heated words on the way to their benches after a Mavs’ timeout and Howard was called for a technical foul as a result.

I certainly didn’t agree with the call but Howard hasn’t had much calls come his way this series to begin with.

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Nowitzki not only sunk the tech free throw but made turnaround fadeaway, his signature shot on the next possession.

The Mavs did pull within two points — 52-50 — with 35 seconds left after Devin Harris made his second of two free throws.

But the Rockets held on to stay on top at the half 56-50.

The Rockets were shooting 54 percent from the field, 41.1 percent from the three-point line, outscoring the Mavs 30-24 in the paint and 15-5 as far as second-chance points.

It was their 3-for-12 shooting performance from the free-throw that factored into the reason why the Rockets lead by only six at the half.

Next: What Was The Difference Maker In The Second Half?

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