Westbrook, Thunder Get on the Board Against Rockets
The Oklahoma City Thunder returned home on Friday night after two tough losses in Houston to begin the series, and were able to hold off the Rockets to cut into the series deficit. Russell Westbrook had a triple-double three quarters in, finishing with 32 points, 13 rebounds, and 11 assists in a 115-113 OKC win over Houston. Westbrook got rare support, including 20 points from Taj Gibson and 12 points apiece from Victor Oladipo and Andre Roberson. The Thunder as a team shot 55 percent from the field, helping them overcome James Harden's 41-point performance. Lou Williams added 22 points off the bench for the Rockets, who trailed by double digits in the first half. The Thunder's star point guard recorded his second straight triple-double, and the seventh of his career in the postseason. Oklahoma City will look to even the series when they host Game 4 on Sunday.
Celtics Avoid 3-0 Hole Against Bulls
The Boston Celtics were caught off guard when they fell behind the Chicago Bulls 2-0 on their home floor, but they got back on track with a 104-87 win on the road Friday night in Game 3. Al Horford had 18 points and eight rebounds, while Isaiah Thomas added 16, as the Celtics took advantage of the Bulls playing without Rajon Rondo. The Bulls' point guard is out indefinitely with a fractured thumb suffered in Game 2. He will be re-evaluated in 7-10 days. Boston led by as many as 20 on the night, finishing with 17 three-pointers to help give them the advantage. Dwayne Wade led the scoring for Chicago with 18 points and Jimmy Butler scored 14, as the Bulls' offense struggled without Rondo, shooting just 39 percent from the floor and committing 18 turnovers. Avery Bradley helped the three-point attack for the Celtics by hitting four of them and finishing with 15 points. Boston can tie the series before heading back home in Game 4 back at the United Center on Sunday.
Bruins Keep Season Alive in Double Overtime
The Boston Bruins had to play a marathon of a game on Friday night to live to see another day, and in the end, got an unlikely hero in the win. Sean Kuraly scored his first two career NHL goals, including the game-winner in double-overtime, to lift the Bruins past the Ottawa Senators, 3-2. The win cuts their series deficit to 3-2 with the win, as Tuukka Rask stood his ground between the pipes with 41 saves. David Pastrnak also scored to help Boston rally from an early 2-0 deficit. Mark Stone and Jean-Gabriel Pageau both scored to give Ottawa that early advantage, but Craig Anderson could not stop Kuraly, despite stopping 36 shots on the night. Both teams had plenty of chances late in the third and in both overtime periods, but no one could capitalize until the 10:19 mark of the second overtime. The Bruins and Senators finished a combined 0-for-8 with the man advantage. The series shifts to Boston for Game 6 on Sunday.
The Oklahoma City Thunder returned home on Friday night after two tough losses in Houston to begin the series, and were able to hold off the Rockets to cut into the series deficit. Russell Westbrook had a triple-double three quarters in, finishing with 32 points, 13 rebounds, and 11 assists in a 115-113 OKC win over Houston. Westbrook got rare support, including 20 points from Taj Gibson and 12 points apiece from Victor Oladipo and Andre Roberson. The Thunder as a team shot 55 percent from the field, helping them overcome James Harden's 41-point performance. Lou Williams added 22 points off the bench for the Rockets, who trailed by double digits in the first half. The Thunder's star point guard recorded his second straight triple-double, and the seventh of his career in the postseason. Oklahoma City will look to even the series when they host Game 4 on Sunday.
Celtics Avoid 3-0 Hole Against Bulls
The Boston Celtics were caught off guard when they fell behind the Chicago Bulls 2-0 on their home floor, but they got back on track with a 104-87 win on the road Friday night in Game 3. Al Horford had 18 points and eight rebounds, while Isaiah Thomas added 16, as the Celtics took advantage of the Bulls playing without Rajon Rondo. The Bulls' point guard is out indefinitely with a fractured thumb suffered in Game 2. He will be re-evaluated in 7-10 days. Boston led by as many as 20 on the night, finishing with 17 three-pointers to help give them the advantage. Dwayne Wade led the scoring for Chicago with 18 points and Jimmy Butler scored 14, as the Bulls' offense struggled without Rondo, shooting just 39 percent from the floor and committing 18 turnovers. Avery Bradley helped the three-point attack for the Celtics by hitting four of them and finishing with 15 points. Boston can tie the series before heading back home in Game 4 back at the United Center on Sunday.
Bruins Keep Season Alive in Double Overtime
The Boston Bruins had to play a marathon of a game on Friday night to live to see another day, and in the end, got an unlikely hero in the win. Sean Kuraly scored his first two career NHL goals, including the game-winner in double-overtime, to lift the Bruins past the Ottawa Senators, 3-2. The win cuts their series deficit to 3-2 with the win, as Tuukka Rask stood his ground between the pipes with 41 saves. David Pastrnak also scored to help Boston rally from an early 2-0 deficit. Mark Stone and Jean-Gabriel Pageau both scored to give Ottawa that early advantage, but Craig Anderson could not stop Kuraly, despite stopping 36 shots on the night. Both teams had plenty of chances late in the third and in both overtime periods, but no one could capitalize until the 10:19 mark of the second overtime. The Bruins and Senators finished a combined 0-for-8 with the man advantage. The series shifts to Boston for Game 6 on Sunday.
