Game 6 is a must-win game for the Clippers, because this is their last home game!
Of course, for the Clippers, they feel that they can definitely win this game!
You know, the big score in the previous series was 3:1, and few teams in the entire NBA history have overturned the set in the playoffs!
Not to mention the Rockets missing Beverley and Motiejunas!
After the start of the sixth game, DeAndre Jordan was in good condition. He blocked shots and made steals against Howard.
After Howard scored the first goal with an alley-oop dunk, Jordan's dunk led to an 8-0 offensive by the Clippers. Although Harden missed all 5 shots in the first quarter, Ariza's long shot and Jones' three-pointer still helped the Rockets.
The score in the first quarter was 25-29.
Ariza hit a three-pointer at the beginning of the second quarter, and then Warcraft received a pass from Prigioni and dunked, and the Rockets caught up to only one point. Rivers Jr. stole the ball and dunked, but Prigioni was dissatisfied with the penalty.
T, after Crawford hit a jumper, the point difference widened to 7 points. At the critical moment, Harden broke out and broke through Rivers to make 2 plus 1. After that, he hit two three-pointers in a row. After Smith also hit a three-pointer,
The Rockets went ahead 46 to 43.
After that, the scores of both sides increased alternately. With 4 minutes and 07 seconds left, Griffin hit a three-pointer with a step back, and the Clippers narrowed the point difference to 3 points. With 2 minutes left, the two sides exchanged blows. Jordan made two free throws and Warcraft
Missed all 4 free throws. Griffin turned around and dunked, Redick hit a three-pointer, and the Clippers took the opportunity to take the lead.
The Clippers led 64 to 62 at halftime, and Harden scored 17 points in the second quarter.
The Clippers' offense started in the third quarter. Redick scored 7 points with consecutive three-pointers. The Clippers led 71-62 by 9 points. The Rockets recovered 4 points, Griffin hit a jumper, and Paul started the attack mode.
He scored 10 points and led the team to a 15-2 offensive climax. With 3 minutes left in the third quarter, the Clippers led 87-68 by 19 points.
Trailing by 19 points and facing the Clippers with Paul and Griffin, the entire Rockets team had no way out.
The Rockets first narrowed the gap with 7 points thanks to Jones' brave performance, and then narrowed the gap to within 10 points with Howard's four free throws. However, Crawford hit a three-pointer to lock the score at 92-79 in the third quarter.
The Clippers lead by 13 points.
When the Rockets entered the final quarter with a 13-point deficit, they ushered in the 50th time in team history that they trailed by double digits in the final quarter of a playoff game, and the previous 49 times the Rockets ended up losing the game!
It's just that they fell behind by a big score. The most important thing is that Rockets star Harden is in poor condition. He made 1 of 7 shots in the third quarter and 0 of 2 free throws, and only scored 2 points!
Although Howard, another Rockets star, performed well, Howard has always been the core of the defensive end. It has never been reliable to rely on him to score on the offensive end!
Behind by a big score, the team needs not only defense, but also scoring. At this time, relying on Howard is not enough!
What to do?
At the critical moment, Rockets coach McHale was still a bit bold. He put Harden on the bench and asked Howard to lead a group of substitutes!
Jason Terry, Brewer, Ariza, Josh Smith, and Howard, these five people played the entire fourth quarter!
In the history of the NBA, there has never been an example of abandoning a top star without any reason at the end of a life-or-death battle. However, coach McHale, who was ridiculed as a "parallel import" by Rockets fans, made what may be the greatest adjustment in his coaching career -
—He pinned top star Harden to the bench in the final quarter!
Surprisingly, the Rockets, who lacked Harden, burst out with amazing explosive power and caught the Clippers off guard.
The Rockets launched a counterattack with the mentality of "treating a dead horse as a live doctor". Brewer and Josh Smith worked together to quickly chase points. Ariza hit a three-pointer at the critical moment, narrowing the point difference to 9 points again.
In the following time, Brewer and Josh successively became the heroes of the team. Brewer succeeded in breaking through and hit a three-pointer. Smith's touch recovered. He scored two three-pointers in a row. With 6 minutes and 25 seconds left in the fourth quarter, the Rockets
Chase to 97-102.
Paul missed a jump shot, Howard missed two free throws and missed a good opportunity to chase points, but the Clippers still couldn't score. Smith broke through and scored, Howard made one of two free throws, and the Rockets chased 100-102 with 4 minutes and 40 seconds left in the fourth quarter.
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This time can be said to be the most critical moment of the entire series, but Harden, the Rockets' leader, is sitting on the bench, watching his teammates fight on the court!
At this moment, several people on the Rockets court have formed a good "chemical reaction". Rockets coach McHale also made an amazing move in his coaching career, which is to continue to let Harden rest off the court!
Brewer hit a three-pointer from the corner and Terry scored from a mid-range shot. They led the team to another 6-0 spurt. With 2 minutes and 25 seconds left in the fourth quarter, the Rockets led 108-102.
The Clippers have been beaten completely out of temper. They took 13 shots but failed to achieve anything!
Paul fouled and scored two free throws at the last moment, but Smith, Brewer and Ariza made four free throws, and Terry hit a three-pointer. In the end, the Rockets reversed and won 119-107, tying the series at 3:
3 flat!
Harden almost didn't play in the final quarter. He only played for a few seconds but didn't touch the ball, and was immediately replaced!
The Clippers general said bluntly after the game: "It was Harden's end that disrupted the Clippers' plan."
It can be said that the Rockets and Clippers are using their lives and one series to defeat Harden alone!
In the crucial fourth quarter, the Rockets beat the Clippers 40:15 in a single quarter without star player Harden. The key to their ability to do this is defense!
Brewer, Ariza, Josh Smith and Howard are all good players on the defensive end. Although Jason Terry is relatively weak on the defensive end, he is experienced and has no problem with the help of four defensive heroes.
If the defense is good, these guys on the Rockets field will have to rely on the weather on the offensive end.
It just so happened that Josh Smith and Brewer were hot in this game. Josh Smith made 4 of 5 in a single quarter and 3 of 4 three-pointers. Brewer made 5 of 8 in a single quarter and 2 of 3 three-pointers. He scored 14 points and 3 points respectively.
15 marks!
You know, the Clippers only scored 15 points in a single quarter!
Due to their excellent defense and explosive touch, the Rockets grabbed 60 rebounds and shot 40.6% of their three-pointers, while the Clippers only grabbed 41 rebounds and their three-point shooting percentage was only 23.3%!
In the end, six Rockets players scored in double figures, while three Clippers players scored in double figures. The Rockets achieved a precious victory through a shocking reversal on the road.
It's a good thing for the Rockets to win, but not necessarily for Harden!
The star player was abandoned at a critical moment, but the team performed amazingly. This time it should be no problem to say who is missing or who is embarrassed!
It was at this time that the hat of a softie began to be worn on Harden’s head...
