In a series where their shots weren't falling like normal, the Houston Rockets managed to close it out with some tough defense.
James Harden scored 26 points and the host Rockets outlasted the Utah Jazz 100-93 on Wednesday to win their first-round playoff series 4-1.
Houston advanced to the Western Conference semifinals for the third season in a row and will face the Los Angeles Clippers or the Golden State Warriors. That series will go to a sixth game after the Clippers won Wednesday.
The Rockets had 12 steals and 12 blocks, the first playoff game where they had double figures in both since Game 5 of the 1994 Western Conference finals, just before they went on to win their first title.
"These last few games we hung our hat on defense," Harden said.
Ricky Rubio cut Houston's lead to 94-93 on a jump shot with about a minute left. Houston's P.J. Tucker missed two free throws, but he grabbed a loose ball seconds later and was fouled again. This time he made both shots to make it 96-93.
Harden blocked a shot by Ruby Gobert on Utah's next possession and he made two free throws to extend the lead to 98-93 with 38 seconds left.
Donovan Mitchell, who shot 4-for-22, missed a three-pointer after that and Chris Paul added two more free throws to secure the victory.
