Thunder/Rockets Game 7 Live Blog

Chris Paul is the most clutch player in the NBA, all you have to do is look at the numbers, and they tell you all you need to know. Chris Paul leads the league in clutch points with 150 while being tied with Shai Gilgeous-Alexander for first in clutch steals (10). He shoots 52 percent from the field and 92 percent from the line.

Paul also has the best fourth-quarter plus-minus rating with plus 172, and his 28 fourth-quarter steals have him tied for third. Armed with all this information and seeing him score 8 points in down the stretch in Game 6, why would you want anyone else in a winner-take-all situation?

No sane person would bet against Paul with a series on the line, yet are those who like to tempt fate. ESPN's Chiney Ogwumike said today on The Jump she is taking James Harden over Paul in tonight's Game 7.

We'll give her a break, Ogwumike is a native Texan, so her fear of not being "allowed to "and at Bush International Airport" lead her to that decision." Harden is 2-1 in Game 7's, scoring 26.7 points per game, with 5.7 assists and shooting 42 percent from the field.

While Paul is 3-3, with 20.8 points per game, 9.5 assists, and shooting 46 percent, if the moment were going to be too big for Oklahoma City, they would have folded on Monday. 

The Thunder has nothing to lose; whatever happens, tonight, or against the Lakers, Sam Presti has a plan and will not veer off course. The Rockets, on the other hand, will have to ask if they are built to win a championship; a loss could mean pushing the reset button on not just the roster but the front office as well.

James Harden knows this, and while he's capable of having a transcendent moment, Paul is the safer bet. Harden shrunk when the Rockets had a six-point lead and a chance to close the door in Game 6, letting Westbrook literally throw their chances away.

After getting hit with a tech, Paul scored on back to back possessions to force a tie, then sank the game-winning free-throws. Paul knows how to rise to the occasion, and tonight, the Thunder is in good hands. 

First Quarter:

It could be hard to type tonight, my hands are already shaking, and they haven't even tipped-off yet. If the Rockets don't win tonight, they are looking for a new coach and maybe a new GM. 

"Selfish Steven Adams," the bodies in the lane just parted when he went to the rim. Houston is starting pretty active on defense. Oklahoma City, with a chance to start on a run, but they are taking shots early in the clock, need to slow it down just a bit. 

Nice to see Lu Dort making Houston regret leaving him alone on the parameter. Houston looks more relaxed than I expected them to be. After Game 6, I thought they would be tight, giving the Thunder a chance to get some breathing room, but that's not the case right now. 

Everything about the first six and a half minutes of this game feels like it's win or home. There have already been five lead changes.  

Lu Dort is on the bench, Schroder is in. Houston is shooting 50 percent from beyond the arc, and they have some wide-open looks. 

Other than the uncontested threes, the Thunder are doing what they need to win; if this game stays close throughout, you have to like Oklahoma City's chances. 

Darius Bazley doesn't seem to be overwhelmed by the moment. 

Bazley gives the Thunder the lead going into the second quarter 30-29. 

Second Quarter:

Billy Donovan would love an option to have someone shoot free throws for Adams. Russ is a much more significant factor in tonight's game; he's playing within himself going to the rim, and not taking wild shots, or giving up opportunities to shoot. 

Darius Bazley is no longer a kid! He flat out took that ball out of P.J. Tucker's hands like it was nothing. If Lu Dort keeps hitting threes, the Thunder is going to win this game.

Darius Bazley is the first-half MVP,  two huge threes, taking the ball away from Tucker, he is making Sam Presti look like a genius.  

Dort with four from beyond the arc here in the first half, but Eric Gordon is showing some clutch gene on that three. Even though Dort is hot, Houston is not going to change their plan; you're going to bet that he gets cold again. 

Oh, by the way, he has 18 in this half and leads all scorers. I may have to change my mind about Bazley being the MVP. 

Oklahoma City has given up 18 points off of turnovers. 61-59 after one half of basketball. 

Thunder need to clean up the Turnovers, do a better job on the boards, and keep contesting the threes, and they'll be fine. 

Third Quarter:

That was a huge basket by Adams; the Thunder needs a stop on this possession. James Harden with three fouls and 10 points. Dort with the three, then SGA takes a page out of Bazley's book by tieing up the ball. 

Remember that block from Covington at that rim, if Houston wins this game, that will be on a loop in Houston. Lu Dort has set a Thunder rookie record by scoring 21 points in a playoff game. 

Thunder starting to look ragged, doing an excellent job of taking Houston deep into the shot clock, but they seem a step slow going for loose balls and rebounds. Schroder is coming up clutch with a three, now SGA needs to hit these two free throws. 

Dort looked like a ten-year vet with the pump fake on what could have been a disastrous possession by Oklahoma City. Thunder did blow an opportunity after that block by Dort on Austin Rivers; you have to convert on the offensive end when you get your shot. 

Thunder will have to come from behind to advance to the second round, 85-80 Rockets as we go to the fourth. 

Fourth Quarter:

We'll have more coverage on inside the Thunder after the game.