Rockets rout Spurs 125-104 to even series at 2

Posted: May 7, 2017 -- 11:59 pm CST.

HOUSTON, TX (Toyota Center) -- The Houston Rockets played Houston Rockets-basketball Sunday night and routed the San Antonio Spurs 125-104 to win Game 4 and even the Western Conference semifinals series 2 games each. James Harden was sensational with 25 points and, more importantly, 12 assists -- which meant his teammates were making shots. Eric Gordon scored 22 points off the bench and Lou Williams added 13 more points.

"We played our game. We played fast. We played for one another," Eric Gordon said after the game. "We were creating good shots for one another and guys were knocking down shots.  So when we play as a team and when we play fast, we will have a chance to win games."

After scoring only 10 points Friday night in Game 3, Gordon and Williams combined for 35 of the Rockets' 50 bench points Sunday night. Nene scored 4 points before leaving the game (and being taken to the hospital) with a left groin injury.

"We told them, 'we won't get to where we want to go if you guys don't be aggressive," James Harden said after the game of Ryan Anderson's, Eric Gordon's, and Lou Williams' production in Game 4.

The Rockets jumped on the Spurs in the first quarter with an early 12-4 lead. After the Spurs sliced the lead to three points, the Rockets went on a 15-3 run to lead 27-12.

The Rockets led 34-22 after the first quarter. Harden scored 8 points in the opening 12 minutes; and, six other Rockets scored at least three points in the quarter.

San Antonio forward Kawhi Leonard led the Spurs' comeback in the second quarter with 11 of his 14 first-half points which helped the Spurs outscore the Rockets 31-23 in the second period.

The Rockets led 57-53 at halftime.

The first 6:18 of the third quarter was the Rockets doing what they do best: get hot from three point line. Patrick Beverley drained a 25-foot three-point shot to begin the scoring. Then, after Harden made two free throws, Gordon sank a 24-footer from three. Harden got in the act and nailed back-to-back three-point shot. Ariza followed with a three-point shot bucket; then, Gordon, sank a 26-footer to give the Rockets 79-61 lead with 5:42 remaining in the third quarter.

San Antonio big man LaMarcus Aldridge woke up from his slumber and scored six points during an 8-0 Spurs' run to trim the Rockets' lead to 10 (79-69).

"We’ve kind of emphasized it the whole series and all year," Mike D'Antoni mentioned after the game. "It kicks in sometimes. I thought we did a great job of having patience with their drive-ins. Drive-kick, drive kick, instead of just throwing up a quick floater, which is kind of what they want. We were able to keep moving the ball, or keep moving our people and keep driving until we found the easier shot. And it worked."

Eric Gordon scored a floater and Lou Williams scored a driving layup to boost the lead to 14.

In the final 28.6 seconds of the quarter, Harden made a 25-foot jumper; then, Jonathon Simmons answered with a three-point basket; however, Harden drew a double-team and dished to a wide open Ryan Anderson and Anderson swished a three to beat the buzzer and give the Rockets a 91-76 lead after three quarters.

The Rockets sank 8 three-point shots (out of 13 attempts) in the third quarter.

Gordon hit a playoff career-high 6 3-pointers tonight after having 7 three-point field goals made the first three games of the series combined.

San Antonio's Gregg Popovich began the fourth quarter with his reserves on the court; and, the Rockets stuck with their version of small ball which helped make the early minutes of the fourth quarter defense optional as both teams traded scoring easy baskets.

Harden made his 4th and final three-point basket of the game to boost the lead to 19 (108-89) and Popovich waved the proverbial white flag and put his seldom used reserves in the game with 7 plus minutes remaining.

The Rockets made 19 three-point shots (out of 43 attempts) in the game.

Houston hit 19 3-pointers on 44.2% shooting tonight after having a total of 23 3 field goals made on 31.5% shooting the two games prior.  The Rockets are averaging 20.5 3 field goals made on 44.1% shooting in their two wins against the Spurs this series.  During the regular season, Houston was 36-5 when having 15+ 3 field goals made and 21-1 when shooting 40.0% or better from behind-the-arc.

"We moved the ball. We found good shots," Ryan Anderson said of the Rockets' run to put the game away. "We found the hot guys. Eric obliviously had a great half. When guys are hot like that, you want to find them. Lou (Williams) had a really aggressive good game. We did a good job of finding the right guys and the right time and getting stops. That was obliviously important."

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