A masterclass in clutch play from Chris Paul has kept the Oklahoma City Thunder's playoffs alive, leading his team to a 104-100 win over the Houston Rockets in game six of their Western Conference series on Tuesday (NZ time).
The All Star point guard drained some critical baskets and made some crucial defensive plays down the final stretch of the fourth quarter while his counterpart Russell Westbrook crumbled, helping the Thunder force a decisive game seven.
Paul finished with 27 points - including 15 in the final quarter - and seven rebounds, while Danilo Gallinari poured in 25 points. Adams chipped in six points and 14 rebounds.
Game seven will be played Thursday, with the winner to advance to play the Los Angeles Lakers.
In the second round of the Eastern Conference, Jimmy Butler hit three consecutive hoops down the stretch to cap a postseason career-high, 40-point performance, as the fifth-seeded Miami Heat stunned the top-seeded Milwaukee Bucks 115-104 in the opener of their semifinal series.
Goran Dragic chipped in with 27 points and Bam Adebayo accumulated a double-double with 12 points and a game-high 17 rebounds as the Heat - who won the season series 2-1 from the Bucks - got the jump in the best-of-seven.
Giannis Antetokounmpo was held to 18 points in the loss, which was Milwaukee's second straight in an opening game.
Antetokounmpo's 18 points were his fewest in a playoff game since he was held to 12 by Toronto in Game 3 of the Eastern Finals last season.
Reuters/Newshub.
