Trailing the Houston Rockets 2-0 in the first round of the NBA playoffs, the game Saturday evening is very close to must-win for the Oklahoma City Thunder.
If they win, they’re back within reach of the series. If they lose, they’ll fall back 3-0, which no team has come back from in NBA history.
Here is how to watch and stream Game 3:
Opponent: Houston Rockets
Date and time: Aug. 22, 5 p.m. CT
How to watch: FOX Sports Oklahoma, ESPN
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The first two games of the series
The Rockets rolled in Game One, winning 123-108 as James Harden had 37, Eric Gordon had 21 and Jeff Green had 22 off the bench. Danilo Gallinari had 29 for Oklahoma City, but Dennis Schroder and Shai Gilgeous-Alexander combined for just 15 points.
The Thunder made it a contest in Game 3, leading after three quarters. Gilgeous-Alexander bounced back with a 31-point performance, and Lu Dort’s return from injury helped limit James Harden to 21 points, well below his average.
But the Rockets took over in the fourth quarter, outscoring the Thunder by 14, and gave Oklahoma City a 111-98 defeat.
The Thunder will look to answer and get a win against Harden and the Rockets on Saturday.
Injury report as of Thursday night
Russell Westbrook was ruled out of Game 3 by head coach Mike D’Antoni, so Oklahoma City will look to take advantage.
Though Thursday afternoon’s injury report said “TBD,” everyone should be available for Oklahoma City. Dort was the only Thunder player on the Game One injury report, and nobody was injured in Game Two.