Playoff roundup: Jeremy Lin compensates and San Antonio elevates

Playoff Roundup

Game 5: Portland vs. Houston

Jeremy Lin came off the bench and had 21 points propelling the Houston Rockets to live another day with a 108-98 victory last night in Houston.



Lin was almost compensating for his ineffectiveness in Game 4 considering the Rockets lost 123-120 and the Houston guard had just 4 points and 3 turnovers in this game.

Linsanity also needed to offset another poor game by Houston All Star guard James Harden. Harden was just 5-15 including 1-7 from the arc.

So far in the series Harden is shooting under 35% from the field.

That's going to have to turn around for the Arizona State University product on Friday in Portland if the Rockets want to have any chance of bringing the series back to Houston for a deciding Game 7.

Damian Lillard and Wesley Matthews combined for 53 points on red hot shooting for Portland (both were 9-18 from the floor).

Unfortunately for Portland, LaMarcus Aldridge had his worst showing thus far in the series with just 8 points in 39 mins.

Game 5: San Antonio vs. Houston

San Antonio outdueled the Dallas Mavericks 31-23 in the second quarter which was enough to give them the 109-103 victory.

In the second half, Dallas outscored the Spurs 54-51 and cut it to a four point game with 3 minutes to go but could never quite get over the hump.



San Antonio, as they normally do, had a very balanced attack with five players in double figures.

Dallas got a combined 75 from Dirk Nowitzki, Monta Ellis and Vince Carter but received little help from anyone else.

San Antonio, with a win, can wrap up the series Friday in Dallas.

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