Western Conference Semi Finals: Spurs surge in Overtime past Rockets, 135-143 (1-0).
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| Passions ran high in Game 1, but basketball prevailed. |
Avery Bradley did himself no favors, picking up four fouls in the 1st Quarter of play, all but eliminating himself from the action. Chris Paul (38 points, 6 assists, 17/25) and James Harden (39 points, 15/26) executed fiercely upon his absence from the court, with CP3 carrying Houston in the first half, then again nearly winning the game in a late 4th Quarter push. James Harden kept the Rockets close in Overtime, despite little contribution by the Rockets bench unit. San Antonio won the third quarter 36-29, Houston won the fourth quarter 36-31 and the Spurs pulled away 25-17 in the extended period after a virtual wash in the first half.
Amazingly, it was the return of Avery Bradley (whose defensive pressure forced two crucial turnovers by Houston's star duo) and the awakening of Brandon Ingram (after a quiet showing in regulation) that sealed this important win at home for the Spurs. The slim scorer answered a 3-PT game-tying shot by CP3 in the final minute with one of his own over Eric Gordon (15 points, 6/10) and then swatted Harden at the basket, leading to a dunk by Kyle O'Quinn (10 points, 2 blocks) downwind to give his team a five-point yield.
In Bradley's stead, Iman Shumpert boosted the Spurs at home with 16 points on three made 3PT shots, swiping loose two steals of his own. Dejounte Murray was the constant weapon in this game, taking charge with 19 points and 8 assists with 3 steals. T.J. Warren (25 points) & Patty Mills (10 points) sparked a 10-PT advantage to begin the fourth quarter, a 10-2 run that the Rockets were forced to challenge. Houston did exactly that, putting the Spurs on the brink of a game one upset, down four points, but Ingram tied the game with a reverse layup with few seconds to spare, as Chris Paul failed to get a game-winning chance off in time.
Ingram would surge further in Overtime, dunking the ball for 25 points with 6 impressive steals, despite going 11/24 overall (45%). Patty Mills came in after a timeout and buried a 3-PT dagger, his team going up 131-139 for good, as Ingram hit the final knell for Houston in this game. Bradley hounded CP3 on the Rockets final possession, causing an interception on the desperation pass up the court.
Also newly activated was Joakim Noah, whose late season performance found him farther down in the rotation due to auspicious production by Dragan Bender, but Noah utilized the playing opportunity for 9 points tonight. Filling out the rest, Skal Labissiere had 9 points with 2 blocks, Bradley finished with 7 points, J.R. Smith got some burn for 6 points and Omri Casspi caught-and-shot his way to 5 points with 2 steals.
Both teams shot above 50%, with the Spurs making fifteen perimeter shots. The glass was highly-contested 37-29, a win for Houston due to Clint Capela's ten rebounds and eleven points. The Rockets defense impressed in the first half, totaling 7 blocks to San Antonio's ten piece. It was ball control that felled Houston, a staggering 17 turnovers to only seven by the Spurs.