Western Conference Semi Finals: Spurs eliminate Rockets, 133-123 (4-0).

Houston's duo played well, yet was eliminated.

The Rockets fired everything to begin this game, in an 0-3 hole, led by James Harden pouring in 21 points and causing two fouls for Avery Bradley. Sloppy turnovers put the Spurs down by fifteen plus early, but San Antonio weathered the firestorm by Houston by amping up defensive intensity and showcasing its own perimeter talent, trimming the lead to 29-33 and all-but erasing any momentum for Houston.

Joakim Noah blocked Chris Paul, leading to the flashy dunk by Dejounte Murray with the whistle. Austin Rivers tried to beat the shot clock, but fell short and Noah's hook shot gave the Spurs the 36-35 advantage, the crowd coming down off that high until its team woke up again, only for T.J. Warren to hold off the wave with 12 points.

JR Smith hit a buzzer beater, fading away on the wing to give the Spurs an unthinkable lead at halftime 63-61, as if the first quarter flurry never took place, with Bradley overcoming foul trouble also and connecting from long range prior.

San Antonio busted the Rockets in the third quarter, 35-23, led by Patty Mills and Brandon Ingram. Houston began missing layups down low, as Ingram hit a bomb from long range and Iman Shumpert rattled in a turnaround three-pointer off the inbound. The Spurs forced the interception, leading to Ingram's and-1 at the basket, culminating in a twenty-point yield of 101-81, the game gone topsy-turvy.

The Rockets, down big now, would claw within single digits twice, the lead only at seven in the final minutes, but Omri Casspi hit the and-1 layup then a 3PTer to hold off the Rockets. Bradley hounded Paul into a turnover on Houston's final possession, as Dragan Bender's 3PTer secured the sweep.

The Spurs were excellent from long range, yet again as they made 19 shots, whereas Houston only made eight. James Harden can't be faulted for his effort, dunking the ball fiercely for 48 points (18/28, 4/7 3PT) in defeat. Chris Paul also had 25 points with 6 assists, going 10/20. Eric Gordon scored 20 points and Clint Capela had 14 points and 16 rebounds for the Rockets last hurrah.

Brandon Ingram powered San Antonio with 28 points, 10/13 overall and 3/5 from 3PT territory. Iman Shumpert delighted with 19 points and 7 rebounds, going 4/7 on threes. Avery Bradley notched 18 points with 2 steals, 3/3 3PT. Patty Mills knocked in 11 points, a big part of that third quarter takeover. Joakim Noah had 10 points with 5 rebounds, 2 steals & 2 blocks. Casspi finished with 9.

Like clockwork, the Golden State Warriors have also reached the Western Conference Finals for yet another thrilling chapter of the league's most intense rivalry. The Spurs will have home court advantage, choosing to start Dragan Bender for Game 1 and activating Mario Chalmers, as Dejounte Murray & Patty Mills have carried playmaking duties heavily so far in the playoffs.