For the second consecutive year in a row, the Houston Rockets managed to advance past the opening round of the NBA playoffs, defeating the Minnesota Timberwolves in five games to move on to the Western Conference semifinals. Here are the three takeaways from Clutch City’s Game 5 performance.
Despite coming out against a team that played with desperation throughout the contest, the Houston Rockets would find a way to counter back with a fight and intensity of their own on Wednesday night.
Clint Capela scored a game-high 26 points and hauled in 15 rebounds to help Houston make a another third quarter run and advance onto the second round with a 122-104 win at home over the Minnesota Timberwolves in Game 5 of the Western Conference quarterfinals.
James Harden, who poured in 22 of his 36 points in Houston’s 50-point explosion during the third quarter of Game 4, finished Game 5 with 24 points and 11 assists, while Chris Paul contributed 12 points and nine assists to eliminate the eighth-seeded Timberwolves, who made it to the postseason for the first time since 2004.
Karl-Anthony Towns led the way for Minnesota with 23 points and 13 rebounds, while Jamal Crawford added 20 points on 8-for-10 shooting in a valiant effort.
Here are the three takeaways from Clutch City’s series-clinching win in Game 5.