The Houston Rockets beat the Oklahoma City Thunder 114-80 in game 3-2 in the series.
Here are some conclusions:
Schroder and Tucker ejected: Thunder baseman Dennis Schroder had a monster in the first half. As the incumbents were fighting, Schroder scored 19 points and was active in defence.
He’s about to break another race in the playoffs through scoring. But with 6:51 playing in the third quarter, half Schroder and the Rockets’ middle, P.J. Tucker, were kicked out of the game.
While Schroder was fighting through a Tucker screen, Schroder hit Tucker in the belt. Tucker was not very satisfied and gave Schroder a soft headbutt from behind.
The revised play and any of the players was discarded. It’s a win for the Rockets.
The Thunder was already losing 17 numbers and getting little offensive production outside Schroder’s doors.
Slow start: Chris Paul’s Thunder starting initial line-up, Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, Luguentz Dort, Danilo Gallinari and Steven Adams entered the game after being outperformed in the series through 34 issues for a hundred possessions.
Thunder coach Billy Donovan stayed with the organization and started in Game 5.
The first Thunder players were overtaken 16-7 to start the game, and Oklahoma City fell into a 24-14 slot in the first quarter. The Thunder hit five out of 26 in total and 1 of 12-3 problems in the first quarter.
The same Thunder lineup won 8-0 to start the third quarter before Donovan replaced Dort with Schroder two minutes in the period of the moment.
The Rockets era of the moment in a 19-2 inning.
Gilgeous-Alexander and Gallinari fight: Gilgeous-Alexander shot 2 out of 8 and Gallinari 0 out of 5.
Two players who have averaged 38 problems this season scored problems in Game 5. Or they spinning the ball four times.
Dort’s dilemma: Dort’s defense opposed to James Harden will continue to gain minutes, but his offensive subtracts what adds his defense. That was the case on Saturday.
The Rockets left Dort wide open and the Thunder rookie gave Houston what he wanted. Dort fired 2 out of 11 in the first half and 0-7 from a distance of 3 points. Six of those far-reaching ones occurred in the first quarter.
Dort finished 3 for the game and 0 out of 9 points.
As for his opposing defense of Harden, it wasn’t like in Game 5. The Rockets star hit 11 out of 15 and four out of 8 points for a 31-point race.
Westbrook returns: Rockets’ escort Russell Westbrook made his debut in the bizarrely silent series. He played 24 minutes and added seven points, seven assists and six rebounds. Westbrook fired three out of thirteen from the ground.
He rattled the baby opposite his former team, ending the birthday party opposite Gilgeous-Alexander in the first quarter.
Westbrook missed the first four games of the series to a right quadriceps bloating.