Steven Adams and the Oklahoma City Thunder are in an 0-2 NBA playoff hole after falling victim to a lockdown defensive effort from the Houston Rockets in Florida on Friday (NZT).
The Rockets were not their usual fluent selves at the offensive end after a fast start to game two of the first-round Western Conference series in the NBA’s bubble at Disney World in Lake Buena Vista, but cruised to a 111-98 victory on the back of a standout defensive display.
Houston, with a balanced offensive effort behind James Harden’s team-high 21 points, kept the Thunder to just 39 second-half points, 44 per cent shooting overall and just 34 from beyond the arc as they took a decisive lead in the West’s four v five series. It was OKC’s 17th defeat in their last 21 playoff games.
The Rockets jacked up an NBA record 56 three-pointers in the game, converting 19 of them at a 34 per cent clip. But with Harden struggling with his shot – he went 5 of 16 for the game – six other Houston players chipped in with double-figure scoring efforts, led by 19 points, 9 rebounds and 3 assists from Danuel House Jr.
Corner three man PJ Tucker added 14 points as he knocked in all four of his attempts from beyond the arc, while Jeff Green (15 points, 7 rebounds), Eric Gordon (15 points, 5 boards, 4 assists) and Austin Rivers (11 points) provided key contributions to keep things ticking over for the victors.
Adams had a quiet night for the Thunder, finishing with 8 points (on 4-of-4 shooting), 11 rebounds and 3 assists in 30 minutes on court. He had a plus/minus of -26.
Shai Gilgeous-Alexander was the only OKC player to come to terms with the suffocating Rockets defence, pouring in a game-high 31 points, on 9-of-17 shooting, to go with 6 rebounds. Danilo Gallinari added 17 points for the Thunder and Chris Paul 14, though the veteran playmaker was -36 in his 37 minutes on court.
Game three will be on Sunday (NZT).
The Thunder did well to battle back from a 30-35 first-quarter deficit to lead 59-53 at the half, mainly thanks to the Rockets’ 3-point shooting, not so much cooling off, but turning ice-cold after a hot start.
Houston had made half of their 16 attempts from beyond the arc in the opening period as both teams shot a stellar 50 per cent from the floor. But then the tap ran dry from deep for the Rockets in the second term as they converted just two of 19 from beyond the arc, and 6 of 28 overall, to allow the Thunder to eke out a narrow advantage.
OKC got double-figure first-half contribution from guards Gilgeous-Alexander (13 points), Paul (10) and Dennis Schroder (10) as they shot 50 per cent from the floor and won the rebound battle 28-20. Gallinari chipped in with 13 through the first two quarters and Adams 8 to go with 6 rebounds and 3 assists.
The Rockets found their stroke early in the third quarter to dash off a 13-0 run and lead 69-61 before Gilgeous-Alexander and Lugentz Dort combined for three straight triples and an 11-0 run as the Thunder regained the advantage, 72-69, with 3:30 remaining.
OKC actually led by a point, 78-77, at the final break, but it was all Houston over the run home as they outscored their opponents 34-20 to take the decisive lead.
Later Paul put their situation in a nutshell when he told reporters: “In a regular world, not Covid, not a bubble, we’d be going back home for two games. We gotta take it one game at a time, learn from this game and, hell, I gotta show up. That simple.”
Houston Rockets 111 (James Harden 21, Danuel House Jr 19, Eric Gordon 15, Jeff Green 15, PJ Tucker 14, Austin Rivers 11, Robert Covington 10), Oklahoma City Thunder 98 (Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, 31, Danilo Gallinari 17, Chris Paul 14, Dennis Schroder 13, Steven Adams 8). 1Q: 35-30; HT: 53-59; 3Q: 77-78.
