Kevin Durant delivers in the clutch as Oklahoma City Thunder edge out Houston Rockets – NBA Part 2
Houston Rockets came out firing after the interval and used a 6 – 0 burst at the start of the 3rd to gain the lead. They had another 9 – 0 streak near the halfway mark that put them firmly in control of the game.
With their side trailing by double digits, the Oklahoma City Thunder responded superbly, ending the quarter on a 12 – 0 spurt that levelled the scores at 72 apiece.
The final period proved to be a test of nerves as the sides traded shots with regularity, neither backing down from the challenge. With time winding down, Durant stepped up to the plate for two clutch shots that put his side up
by 1.
Goran Dragic missed his shot in the next possession for Houston and Kevin Durant nailed the free throws afterwards, paving the way for Oklahoma City Thunder to win 98 – 95. Houston had one more chance to nail a three-pointer and
take the game to overtime, but Dragic couldn’t find an open man on the last possession and the Rockets never got a shot off.
"When you play a team back-to-back, it's always hard to win," Oklahoma City coach Scott Brooks said. He was complementary of his side for showing enough resolve to win a game in which they were made to fight hard but came up with
the goods in the end.
"We had enough energy to win the game. We executed down the stretch and made big plays and made big shots. We hit some big free throws."
Rockets forward Luis Scola said after the game that his side didn’t have too much to be ashamed of. He believed the Rockets had performed very well on the night and just weren’t able to find anything in the tank to edge the game.
"I think we played a great game," Scola said. "This is one of the best teams in the NBA right there. At the end, we put ourselves in a situation to win the game.”
About the last possession which he wasted, Dragic revealed that the Rockets wanted to get the ball to Kevin Martin, but the Oklahoma City defence proved too tough an obstacle.
"The play was for (Martin), and they switched on (Martin)," Dragic said. "Then I saw Luis wide open, but the ball just slipped. It was high, high, but you know it was a good play. Luis was open. I just couldn't make the pass, but
it was my fault, so that's it."
Houston would surely rue losing a game in which they competed right till the end and were definitely a match for their more illustrious opponents. In fact, the Rockets shot a better percentage from the field; 43.7 – to - 42.4,
and from beyond the arc; 35.7 – to - 33.3.
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