By Johnny Askounis/ info@eurohoops.net
The Houston Rockets set themselves up for a best-of-seven series versus the Los Angeles Lakers on a 104-102 victory over the Oklahoma City Thunder Wednesday in the Orlando bubble.
Wrapping up the first round of the 2020 NBA playoffs, the Rockets earned the “W” in a close game. P.J. Tucker nailed the game-winning jump shot returning the lead to his side, 103-102, with 1:25 left.
Eric Gordon scored 21 points. Robert Covington added 21 of his own banking six shots beyond the arc and pulling down ten rebounds. Russell Westbrook made a 20-point contribution.
James Harden was only 4/15, finished with 17 points and nine assists, including the dime for the last field goal of the exciting Game 7 affair. He went on to block a Luguentz Dort three-pointer with 4.8 seconds to go clinching the win.
Arizona State alum Dort did set his NBA-best at 30 points. Fellow Canadian Shai Gilgeous-Alexander got 19 points, so did Chris Paul ending his season with a triple-double accumulating 12 assists and 11 rebounds.
German point guard Dennis Schroder had 12 points, six rebounds, and five assists of the bench. Starter Danilo Gallinari managed four points with 2/6 field goals, nine rebounds, and one assist.
The Western Conference semifinals series between the advancing Rockets and the Lakers will tip-off Friday.
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