The Houston Rockets started the third quarter on a 19-2 run, but their biggest score over those 12 minutes was Dennis Schroder getting ejected alongside P.J. Tucker.
Schroder, whose 19 first-half points allowed the Thunder to catch up from a poor first quarter, was sent away halfway through the third quarter.
The Rockets continued to roll, beating the Thunder 114-80.
The loss wasn’t because of Schroder’s absence. Oklahoma City failed to score 20 points in three of the four quarters.
Houston presented its new tactic from the get-go: Force Lu Dort to shoot. The Rockets left him open and put his defender in the paint, making it tougher for the Thunder guards to drive and forcing them to pass it out to an open man.
Dort was typically an open man. He could not find the basket, finishing 3-for-16 from the field and 0-for-9 from 3.
He attempted nine shots in the first quarter alone, making just one, and he missed six 3-pointers in that frame. Houston got out to a 24-14 lead.
Dort may be an excellent defender, one who Oklahoma City could not have caught up in the series without, but he was not good in Game 5. His defense is too important for him to be unplayable, but Houston turned his presence into a problem for Oklahoma City.
One threat the Rockets faced: eliminated.
In the second quarter, Schroder scored 11 points in a row and then assisted a Dort layup to put the Thunder up five. James Harden broke out immediately after, re-taking the lead, but the Thunder help it close.
The Rockets got out to a huge third-quarter run, beginning with the Thunder committing four turnovers in the first 3:15 of the quarter.
Then Schroder got ejected after he stuck his arm below Tucker’s belt on a screen. Tucker retaliated by yelling at him and bumping Schroder’s head from behind with his own while Schroder argued with referees about the foul call.
Second threat the Rockets faced: eliminated.
The Thunder trailed 85-63 after the third quarter.
Now down 3-2 in the series, Oklahoma City will have to win two in a row again. They’ll need more from all around.
Danilo Gallinari had one point and only attempted five shots.
Chris Paul had 16 points, but went 1-for-5 from deep. Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, who had played well the last three games, floundered in Game 5, finishing with four points on eight shots and did not get to the free throw line.
One positive was Steven Adams, who had a double-double with 12 points and 14 rebounds.
Schroder and Darius Bazley were the only other players to score double-digit points, but Bazley went just 2-for-10 from the field. Houston was also fine with him taking 3s, and he made two of seven attempts. His 12 rebounds, though, were a positive, and may make Thunder head coach Billy Donovan more comfortable putting him in as the 5.
The Thunder likely need a change with their rotation, perhaps with a player like Gallinari or Bazley at the center position.
Three Rockets players eclipsed 20 points, none of which were Russell Westbrook, who only had to play 24 minutes in his first game of the series.
Oklahoma City will need to find a way to stop all the Rockets scoring threats while managing to space the floor and create offense themself.
Now down 3-2, they’re one loss away from the season being over.
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