Rockets soar over Clippers to avoid elimination

James Harden and Dwight Howard delivered when it mattered most for Houston Rockets, who averted play-off elimination with a 124-103 home win over Los Angeles Clippers in Game 5 of the Western Conference semifinals on Tuesday.

Harden posted 26 points, 11 rebounds and 10 assists, while Howard added 20 points and 15 rebounds as Rockets forced a return trip to Los Angeles for Game 6 on Thursday by thriving in the paint and playing with defensive vigour.

Los Angeles still leads the best-of-seven series 3-2 but if Rockets can even the series on Thursday, Game 7 would be back in Houston on Sunday.

Rockets matched their Game 3 total for points in the paint (36) by halftime and finished with 64 as they took full advantage of DeAndre Jordan’s foul trouble, with Clippers center picking up three by the break while logging just nine first-half minutes.

Jordan finished with 13 points and 11 rebounds but was largely neutralised as a rim protector. Forward Blake Griffin paced the Clippers with 30 points and 16 rebounds, while guard Chris Paul added 22 points and 10 assists.

The guard trio of JJ Redick, Jamal Crawford and Austin Rivers, instrumental in two blowout wins in Los Angeles, shot a combined 8-for-33.

Rockets coach Kevin McHale tweaked his lineup, starting forward Josh Smith in place of Terrence Jones. Smith finished with nine points, seven rebounds and four assists, while Jones added 12 points and five boards.

Cleveland Cavaliers moved one win away from the Eastern Conference final after beating Chicago 106-101 in Game Five of their semifinal series on Tuesday.

Lebron James finished with 38 points, 12 rebounds and six assists, Kyrie Irving scored 25 points, and Iman Shumpert grabbed a crucial offensive rebound in the final minute as Cleveland took a 3-2 lead in the best-of-seven series.

It is the first time either team won consecutive games in the series and Cavaliers will attempt to close out Chicago on Thursday at the Bulls’ United Centre.

If Chicago win then Game 7 would be played on Sunday in Cleveland.

Bulls were again without forward Pau Gasol due to a hamstring injury, and forward Taj Gibson was ejected in the fourth quarter after an incident involving Cavs guard Matthew Dellavedova led to both teams tangling under the basket.

Gibson appeared to push Dellavedova down while going for a rebound, while Dellavedova pinned Gibson’s left leg between both of his. Gibson kicked Dellavedova while trying to shake free and was ejected after officials separated both teams.

Chicago guard Jimmy Butler had 29 points and nine rebounds, including a pair of late three-pointers to give Bulls hope, and guard Derrick Rose added 16 points, nine rebounds and seven assists. However, 12 of Rose’s points came in the first quarter.

Bulls head home trying once again to stave off elimination from James, who has had a hand in ending Chicago’s season in three of the past five years.