Houston Rockets flounder against San Antonio Spurs in OT

The Houston Rockets are edging closer to end of the Western Conference Finals as the series resumes tonight for Game 5.

This series has gone by fast, hasn’t it?

We just started one week ago and it has been a hell of series to watch.

Now mind you, these games have been blowouts on either end but it goes to show that each team is ready to put the pedal to the floor once they gain momentum.

We’ve seen the resilience of both teams when the times get tough — with both losing integral parts of the roster.

The Spurs have continued to play without Tony Parker, arguably the heart and soul of the team as well as the floor general.

Patty Mills and Jonathon Simmons have been carrying the workload at the point and it has been good enough for them so far.

The Rockets have lost Nene for the season and now will run Ryan Anderson as the backup center to eat up his minutes.

It’s novel idea that’s been used a few times during the season but did it work tonight?

Let’s rap about it.

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Both teams started out with incredible momentum — trading buckets — but the Spurs started to sprint ahead with Mills nailing a three, putting them up 20-11.

But at the 6:37 mark, Mike D’Antoni unleashed Ryno from the bench to check in for Clint Capela.

The Rockets were losing the momentum and D’Antoni had to give Capela a short hook to try to restore some of it back.

What happened?

With the combination of James Harden‘s heroics and Anderson’s floor-spacing capabilities, this team fought their way back into the game, making it tough for the Spurs to adjust to their small-ball concept.

The pick-and-roll/ball movement was killing our opponent and David Lee was continuously having to switch to defending the guards *cough* *cough* Harden!

This opened Harden up for plenty of jumpers and he led the Rockets to a 11-4 run with the team pulling within two of the Spurs, 24-22.

The rest of the quarter remained tight as the Rockets trailed the Spurs 32-29.

Things remained competitive throughout the 2nd quarter and when Capela returned, he was fierce as they could come, blocking shots and just handling the interior as he should be doing.

Both teams continued to duke it out and ended the first half with the Rox being on top, 60-58.

Harden had 23 points, eight rebounds and five assists to his credit while Anderson had nine points and four rebounds in 17 minutes off the bench.

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Capela had three monster blocks to add to the repertoire of the team’s somewhat tenacious defense.

The third quarter was true test of wits — there was saltiness, grit, heart and hustle out of both teams.

Guys were taking charges and giving every ounce of what they had on the floor and it was one inspiring quarter to watch.

It unfortunately ended with Danny Green nailing a three-pointer from the mid-left side of the arc to put the Spurs up 86-85.

The 4th quarter continued with the Spurs wanting to be in the driver’s seat with a Manu Ginobili three to put them up 89-85.

The team continued to struggle with their shooting but did enough to stay neck-and-neck with the Spurs.

Mills, LaMarcus Aldridge and Ginobili were working hard to ensure that they went down fighting and that’s what happened.

With 11.1 seconds left and with the game tied at 101, the Spurs had the ball and it was in Mills’ hands.

He launched a three with time expiring that included a pump-fake that banked in but was after the red light had illuminated.

The shot didn’t count.

I’m glad — because I believe Pau Gasol was supposed to set a pick on Harden but it never materialized because he stayed down low.

Houston Rockets /

Houston Rockets

Who knows what would’ve happened?

Gasol likely would’ve given Mills the space he needed to sink the shot within regulation.

Both teams were ready to endure to what would be the final five minutes of game — OVERTIME!

The Rockets hung in there but the ball movement went to complete halt and the team went to isolating Harden.

He dribbled the clock out on many possessions and he’d either shoot a bad shot or turn the ball over, clearly falling in the Spurs trap.

Ryno put the Rox up 107-106 with 41 seconds left but Danny Green countered with a finger-roll along with a foul from Harden, putting the Spurs up 109-107.

Green drew another foul with 15 seconds left but made one of two free throws to put the Spurs up for good 110-107.

The Rockets did get the ball back but Gordon nearly lost the ball but fought it back with Mills to get a jump ball call.

After Anderson won the tip, Harden eventually gets the ball at the mid-left area of the arc and goes for tie but it got rejected by Ginobili cleanly.

And that’s the ball game — it was the Rockets not deciding to move the ball around and finding other innovative ways to score that cost them this loss in OT.

But they’ve got to win now — backs are up against the wall and there’s no tomorrow, they can do it.

Next: James Harden To Sign A Super-Max Contract Offseason?

Harden had 33 points, 10 rebounds and 10 assists marking a triple-double for the Beard.

We were so focused on winning the game — I barely noticed it while it was happening!

Patrick Beverley had 20/4, Anderson had 19/7, Capela had 11 rebounds and Gordon had six.

Kawhi Leonard — who did not play the entire OT period — led with 22 points, 15 rebounds for the Spurs and Mills had 20 points to his credit.

Aldridge had 18/14.

See ya’ll Thursday.

Go Rockets.

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