If the Houston Rockets ever had a time to look like the Clutch City team of the mid 90s… tonight is the night!
The Los Angeles Clippers couldn’t close the series in Game 5 last Tuesday night in Houston as the Rockets got the job done at home thanks to a break out performance from James Harden who hasn’t played the best ball this series. Harden put up a triple double with 26 points, 11 rebounds, and 10 assists; the first Houston Rocket to do so in the post season since Steve Francis in 2004.
Dwight Howard, who was ejected in game 4, managed 26 points and 11 rebounds to help push the Rockets to a lopsided 103-124 victory over Los Angeles.
Harden and company must win tonight and game 7 to make western conference dreams a reality. While the odds are stacked against them Houston has surmounted the same odds before. When the Rockets won their back to back championships in ’94 and ’95 they fell to the Phoenix Suns 3-1 only to rally past them and go on to win it all. Twice.
Tonight’s game has the added pressure of being in Los Angeles. The Clippers are not only one game away from closing the series but they also have a chance to do it on their home turf. On the optimistic side this schedule also means that if the Rockets were to win the series they would do it at home in the Toyota Center.
The Houston Rockets face the Los Angeles Clippers tonight at 10:30E/9:30C on ESPN.
