Rockets survive Game 7, advance to second round behind clutch Harden defense

Photo courtesy of Mark J. Terrill/Associated Press

In a series filled with so many highs and lows, it was only fitting that it ended with one of the craziest, most heart-pounding finishes in recent memory.

The Houston Rockets, with their backs against the wall, squeaked out a Game 7 win on Wednesday night by a score of 104-102, winning the series in seven games and advancing on to the second round in dramatic fashion.

It was close right from the tip, and neither team was really able to pull ahead early. Houston managed to open up a seven point lead with two minutes remaining, but a 10-2 Oklahoma City run gave the Thunder the early 30-29 lead after the first quarter.

It was a team effort early on, as James Harden only managed to amass four points in the first quarter. Russell Westbrook poured in six points, as did Eric Gordon, who hit two quick threes.

It was much of the same in the second quarter, which saw the Rockets outscore the Thunder by only three, helping them to enter the half with a two point lead at 61-59. Eric Gordon and Robert Covington turned it on to end the half, finishing with 16 and 14 respectively. James Harden had 10 points to go along with five assists.

It was Luguentz Dort -- who had been giving the Rockets fits all series -- that proved to be the biggest obstacle for the Rockets. After an abysmal shooting performance in Game 6, Dort lit it up from the floor, going for 18 points in the first half and 30 points total in the entire game. Chris Paul also commanded the floor with his usual vigor, ending the second quarter with nine points and nine assists.

A low-scoring third quarter that saw neither team score more than 25 points kept both teams in check, but Houston managed to slightly push the lead to five entering the final quarter of play. The Rockets, who had been shooting an abysmal percentage from the floor during the game, would need to turn it on late if they were to advance to the next round.

A testament to their unwillingness to go home, the Rockets did manage to step up late -- though, not in the way one would expect. It was Houston's defensive intensity that made up for their offensive shortcomings, a rarity in a Mike D'Antoni scheme. Such was the potency of their defensive presence that Houston held Oklahoma City to only three made field goals in the final eight and a half minutes of the quarter.

And who else would it be to lead the team defensively than James Harden. Harden, who struggled all night from the floor, ended the game with easily the best defensive rating of all Rockets, and had a total net rating of +11.5 during the contest, also a team best. Despite ending the game with only 17 points on 4-15 shooting, his defense was what propelled the team to victory in the clutch.

In no better way was this evident than in the final defensive possession of the game, during which Harden earned himself a clutch block on Lu Dort's potential game-winning three pointer.

Houston survives a tough Oklahoma City Thunder squad that pushed the team to the very brink. After an off day on Thursday, Houston will be forced to turn right around to play the western conference's number one overall seed in the Los Angeles Lakers on Friday, led by LeBron James.