April 25 (UPI) -- James Harden and the Houston Rockets ousted the Utah Jazz with a 100-93 win Wednesday night to clinch their first-round playoff series in five games.
The Rockets advanced to the Western Conference semifinals for the third consecutive season with the win. Houston edged the Jazz with its defensive effort, recording 12 steals and 12 blocks. It was the first playoff contest in which the Rockets tallied double figures in both since Game 5 of the 1994 Western Conference finals. Houston won an NBA championship in that same year.