NBA: Housten Rockets eliminated
May 4th 2008 00:04
The Housten Rockets bid farewell to their season
The Housten Rockets season is over after falling to a 113-91 loss to Utah Jazz last night.
Trailing in the series 3-2, the Rockets needed a victory in order to keep their championship campaign alive.
Despite Rockets hard man Tracey McGrady's stellar performance, it wasn't enough against a Utah team that is looking very much like severe championship contenders.
McGrady scored 40 points (10 rebounds) in an inspired performance to keep the Rockets in the contest, but Utah pair Deron Williams and Mehmet Okur each scored 25 and 19 points respectively to end the Rockets hopes in the NBA this year.
In the semi-finals of the Eastern Conference, Utah will now play the Los Angeles Lakers while New Orleans will battle it out against the San Antonio Spurs.
In other matches, the Atlanta Hawks (who finished eighth in the Eastern conference) keep surprising after drawing their playoff against the Boston Celtics (Ist in the Eastern Conference) three games all.
The Atlanta Hawks, led by Marvin Williams and MIke Bibby, spearheaded a 103-100 victory over their more fancied opposition to keep the possibility of a major upset alive.
Williams finished with 18 points and Bibby 17 for Atlanta while Boston's Kevin Garnett scored 22 points to be the match's highest scorer.
Boston's loss was also soured due to the expulsion of Paul Pierce five minutes from full-time after showing clear discontent to the referee after being penalised for a foul.
Boston now must win at home if they are to avoid one of the great finals upsets in NBA history.
The winner of that match will play the Cleveland Cavaliers after they beat the Washington Wizards 105-88 to qualify for the sem-finals of the Eastern conference.
LeBron James lead the Cavaliers to victory after scoring 27 points and producing 13 rebounds and 13 assists. Wally Szczerbiak also played well for the Cavaliers who eventually finished with 26 points, his best tally in a finals match.
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Comment by Ryan Pravato
(Houston)