ORLANDO - James Harden scored 37 points to lift the Houston Rockets to a 123-108 win over the Oklahoma City Thunder in Game 1 of their Western Conference first-round series on Tuesday night.
Harden was 12 of 22 from the field and added 11 rebounds.
Without Russell Westbrook for the fifth time in six games, the Rockets had little problems getting going offensively, combining for 76 points in the second and third quarters.
That offense came from some usual suspects, like Harden, and the unusual.
After struggling from the field in the second quarter, going 2 of 7 from the floor and missing all four of his three-point attempts, Harden turned the corner in the third to help the Rockets extend the lead once again after the Thunder cut what was once a 21-point lead down to 10 four minutes into the third.
But the Rockets finished the quarter with a 26-15 run which included six 3-pointers, three by Harden, to take control for good.
Houston finished with 20 3-pointers, six by Harden.
Eric Gordon, filling in for Westbrook, had 14 of his 21 points in the second quarter.
Jeff Green scored 22 points off the bench while Ben McLemore, making his first playoff appearance in his seventh season, added 14 points.
Houston's bench combined for 42 points and the Rockets had 25 assists as Houston's scoring effort was balanced beyond Harden's big night.
When Harden went to the bench late in the first quarter, the Rockets extended their six-point lead to 13 by the time Harden returned.
Danilo Gallinari led the Thunder with 29 points. Chris Paul, who was traded from Houston to Oklahoma City for Westbrook in the offseason, added 20 after missing all five of his first-quarter shots.
Steven Adams had 17 points and 12 rebounds for the Thunder.
Westbrook was out for the fifth time in six games with a strained right quadriceps.
Before the game, Houston coach Mike D'Antoni said Westbrook was healing, but there was no timetable for his return.
"Can't rule anything out," D'Antoni said, "but don't rule anything in."
Thunder rookie Luguentz Dort missed his second consecutive game with a right knee sprain. Terrance Ferguson started in Dort's place.
Reuters