The Houston Rockets advanced to the second round of the NBA play-offs with a 100-93 win over the Utah Jazz in game five.
James Harden top-scored for the Rockets with 26 points and grabbed six rebounds and six assists to send his team into the Western Conference semi-finals for the third season in a row.
🏀 FINAL SCORE THREAD 🏀 The @HoustonRockets win Game 5 at home and advance to the Western Conference Semis behind James Harden's 26 PTS, 6 REB, 6 AST, 4 BLK!#RunAsOne 100#TakeNote 93 Clint Capela: 16 PTS, 10 REBEric Gordon: 15 PTS, 4 3PMChris Paul: 15 PTS, 8 REB, 5 AST pic.twitter.com/HonH4h61Js — NBA (@NBA) April 25, 2019
The MVP candidate was backed up by a 16-point performance from Clint Capela, while Utah's Donovan Mitchell could not find the same form as game four, scoring just 12 points and missing his nine three-point attempts.
The Rockets, 4-1 series winners, will now meet either the Los Angeles Clippers or the Golden State Warriors in the second round.
The Clippers forced another game in their first-round series with the defending champions, beating the Warriors 129-121 on the road.
.@TeamLou23 got loose tonight. ⬇️ @Kia Performance of the Game ⬇️ pic.twitter.com/NLe0uirz0t — LA Clippers (@LAClippers) April 25, 2019
Lou Williams finished with 33 points and 10 assists as the Clippers avoided elimination and set up a game six at the Staples Center.
Kevin Durant's 45 points came in a losing effort for the Warriors, who lead the series 3-2.
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