Kevin Durant scored 41 points in his first game without injured All-Star Russell Westbrook, and the Oklahoma City Thunder fought off Houston’s late rally to beat the Rockets 104-101 on last night in Houston for a 3-0 lead in the best-of-seven playoff series.
Durant scored 27 points in the first half, and the Thunder led by 26 points before a big third-quarter rally by the Rockets put them within striking distance.
Houston regained the lead with about four minutes left, and was up with less than a minute remaining. But Durant hit a 3-pointer seconds later to put Oklahoma City on top 100-99.
A turnover by James Harden gave the Thunder the ball back and Derek Fisher made two free throws to push the lead to 3. Harden made a layup, but Reggie Jackson hit two more free throws after that.
Houston had a last chance, but Carlos Delfino’s 3-pointer fell short.
Harden scored 30 points to lead the Rockets in the first playoff game in Houston since 2009. Game 4 is tomorrow night in Houston
Westbrook was injured in Game 2, and the Thunder said yesterday his season-ending surgery on his right knee was successful. It was the first time Durant had played without Westbrook, who hadn’t missed a game in his career before Saturday.
Durant tied a career high for the playoffs, and he added 14 rebounds, four assists, two steals and a block. Jackson started in place of Westbrook and had 14 points, and Ibaka added 17 points and 11 rebounds.
Grizzlies 104, Clippers 83
In Memphis, Tenn., Marc Gasol had 24 points and 13 rebounds, and the Grizzlies beat the Clippers to even their first-round playoff series at 2-all.
Zach Randolph finished with 24 points and nine rebounds as the Grizzlies won their second straight to ensure another stop in Memphis for Game 6. Mike Conley added 15 points and 13 assists.
Chris Paul and Blake Griffin had 19 points apiece for the Clippers, and Griffin also grabbed 10 rebounds.
The team that controls the boards has won each game of the series so far, with Memphis owning a 45-28 advantage in Game 4. That led to a 22-2 scoring difference in second-chance points, boosted by a 13-5 edge on offensive boards.
The Grizzlies used their prowess on the glass to beat the speedy Clippers when it came to fast-break points, 18-6.
Memphis’ biggest advantage is its big men, and Randolph and Gasol each took turns helping the Grizzlies turn this into a best-of-three series.
Randolph had 16 points and seven rebounds in the first half as Memphis got off to a quick start, leading 33-25 after the first quarter. Gasol scored 18 in the second half, using an effective jumper to avoid the paint after picking up his third foul with 7:54 left in the third. Randolph got his third 7 seconds later.
It didn’t matter.
The Clippers never led by more than two, the last time at 60-58 on a pair of free throws by Paul with 5:58 left in the third. Gasol then hit a 23-footer that beat the shot clock and made a pair of free throws to put Memphis ahead.
Hawks 90, Pacers 69
In Atlanta, Al Horford had 26 points and 16 rebounds as the Hawks turned things around dramatically in their playoff series against Indiana, blowing out the Pacers in Game 3.
Playing with much more urgency than they did in two double-digit losses at Indianapolis, the Hawks raced to a 54-30 halftime lead and narrowed the best-of-seven series to 2-1. Game 4 is tomorrow night in Atlanta, where the Hawks have won 12 straight over the Pacers dating to 2006.
Lakers’ Nash, World Peace out
The Lakers, down 3-0 to the Spurs in their best-of-seven series, will be really short-handed today.
Steve Nash (hamstring), Jodie Meeks (ankle) and Steve Blake (hamstring) will miss their second consecutive games in the series. Metta World Peace (knee) also has been ruled out.
