The Rockets had spent the season playing without Dwight Howard and against defenses loaded up to slow James Harden. With Game 1 of their playoff series against Mavericks on the line on Saturday, they did what they had all along.
They moved the ball, launched 3s and took control of the fourth quarter, surging past Dallas, 118-108, to lead a playoff series for the first time since the last time they won a series, in 2009.
The Rockets got the series opener when they surged in the fourth quarter, taking advantage of the defense the Mavericks typically use on Harden to get open shots around him. Harden had 24 points, scoring 15 from the line.