James Harden (centre) scored a series-low 17 points, but made a decisive block from Luguentz Dort (left) at the other end
A late defensive play by James Harden helped the Houston Rockets beat the Oklahoma City Thunder and set up a Western Conference semi-final against the Los Angeles Lakers.
Harden blocked a three-point attempt by Thunder’s Luguentz Dort with 4.8 seconds left to preserve the Rockets’ one-point lead in the series decider.
A Robert Covington free throw with 1.1 seconds left then sealed a 104-102 win.
Game one of the best-of-seven semi-final takes place on Friday.
Meanwhile, in the Eastern Conference, the Miami Heat beat Milwaukee Bucks 116-114 to go 2-0 up in their semi-final series.
The Bucks, who came into the play-offs with the best regular season record, levelled the game with 4.3 seconds left when Khris Middleton hit three free throws.
However, Heat forward Jimmy Butler was fouled attempting a potential game-winner on the buzzer, allowing him the chance to score two free throws and secure the win.
More Stories
After a cluster of new COVID-19 cases among the White House staff and a campaign offical, the election night watch party in the White House has become another symbol of U.S. President Donald Trump’s cavalier attitude toward a virus that is ripping across the …
Rob Lucas says the SA economy is forecast to go backwards by 0.75pc in 2020-21, a better outcome than a national economy forecast to shrink 1.5pc.
Labor and crossbench senators want changes to JobMaker, arguing too many workers will be excluded from the hiring credit scheme.