The Houston Rockets moved ahead in the series despite the returning Russell Westbrook playing limitedly. It’s always tough to close out in the playoffs, but they’re in good shape.
HOME TEAM: #5 Oklahoma City Thunder (2-3)
After two-straight solid performances, the Thunder crashed and burned in Game 5. They were destroyed by the Rockets, 114-80, and shot an appalling, season-low 31.5% from the floor.
All the discipline they had in Games 3 and 4 were suddenly gone. The Thunder weirdly tried to beat the Rockets at their own game, so they obviously failed miserably. They hoisted brick threes after brick threes and ended up going just 7-for-46 from beyond the arc. Then, there’s poor ball handling too, where they collectively committed 18 turnovers.
Rookie Lu Dort has been a darling of the OKC fans all season and he’s getting some spotlight from others after Games 3 and 4 – but he’s kinda been figured out by now as Harden has shot an efficient 11-for-15 in Game 5.
Offensively, the three-guard attack of Thunder will be the main weapon. We’ll see if they can rise from the Game 5 smashing, though. Chris Paul and Dennis Schroder still scored nicely in the blowout, but Shai Gilgeous-Alexander was quiet, shooting just 2-for-8 for four points in 34 minutes.
OKC is averaging 104.4 PPG in the series.
ROAD TEAM: #4 Houston Rockets (3-2)
The Rockets got embarrassed and clamped on in Games 3 and 4, but finally figured things out again in Game 5. They barely broke a sweat in the 34-point laugher, and also swished 19 threes.
James Harden, who’s being scrutinized for getting shut down by an undrafted rookie, responded with 31 points, four threes, and five assists on 11-for-15 shooting. He’s averaging over 31 per game in the series and he should be able to continue scoring in that ballpark – hopefully, though, the intriguing battle with Lu Dort will carry on.
Russell Westbrook’s return underwhelmed, but it was expected since he’s still not 100%. We’ll see if he has more freedom for Game 6. Brodie only had seven points, six rebounds, and seven assists on 3-for-13 shooting across 24 minutes.
Hopefully, the All-Star duo will continue getting help from Eric Gordon (19.4 PPG in the series) and journeyman Jeff Green (15.6 PPG), who’s played well in four of the series’ five games.
Houston is averaging 113.8 PPG in the series, and ranks first in the playoffs in three-point shooting at 19.2 threes per game.
PREDICTIONS:
The Rockets will close this one out in 6. Harden has his confidence back, Westbrook will slowly but surely be in rhythm, and Gordon and the supporting cast will produce nicely again.
Paul and company will put up a much better fight but Houston will wrap this up tomorrow, 116-110.
