OKLAHOMA CITY – James Harden scored 31 points as Houston kept their NBA first-round playoff hopes alive with a 107-100 win over Oklahoma City in game five here Wednesday.
Playing against his former Thunder teammates, Harden drained his first seven three-point attempts for the youthful Rockets who now trail the best-of-seven series three games to two.
“The guys are battling,” said Houston coach Kevin McHale. “You got to go out there and fight every single night.”
Harden, who helped lead the Thunder to the NBA finals last season where they lost to the Miami Heat, shot just four-of-25 from three-point range in the first four games against Oklahoma City.
Houston played without starting point guard Jeremy Lin for the second straight game because of a bruised chest muscle.
But the Thunder missed all-star point guard Russell Westbrook even more Wednesday. Westbrook tore his lateral meniscus, underwent surgery and is done for the season.
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