Kevin Martin helped the Oklahoma City Thunder eliminate the Houston Rockets on Friday. (Photo: Brett Davis, USA TODAY Sports) Kevin Durant can't carry the scoring load all by himself for the Oklahoma City Thunder. On Friday, he didn't have to. Sixth man Kevin Martin bounced back from a disappointing first five games in the series to score 25 points and help the Thunder secure a 103-94 win over the Houston Rockets to advance to the second round of the playoffs.
James Harden, the superstar the Thunder traded for Martin, battled through a case of strep throat that had him unable to drink water on the bench to score 26 points for the Rockets. The Rockets, led by Harden and Chandler Parsons (25 points), kept it close in the first half and trailed by two going into halftime. However, Durant and Martin began to heat up in the third quarter and Oklahoma City never lost control of the game after that.
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BOX SCORE:Thunder 103, Rockets 94
Martin's performance was a welcome change of pace for the Thunder, who have not had a consistent second option on offense since Russell Westbrook went down with a season-ending knee injury in Game 2. In his place, point guards Reggie Jackson and Derek Fisher combined for 26 points, and Jackson added 7 rebounds and 8 assists.
Rockets point guard Jeremy Lin came off the bench for the first time since re-aggravating a chest injury in Game 3. He scored 3 points in 13 minutes.
With Friday's win, the Thunder advance to the second round of the Western Conference playoffs.
Game 6 in Houston: Thunder 103, Rockets 94 - Reggie Jackson pulls up for a shot.
Troy Taormina, USA TODAY Sports Related story Fullscreen ![Game 6 in Houston: Thunder 103, Rockets 94 - Omer Asik yells at Kendrick Perkins in a confrontation.]()
Game 6 in Houston: Thunder 103, Rockets 94 - Omer Asik yells at Kendrick Perkins in a confrontation.
Troy Taormina, USA TODAY Sports Related story Fullscreen ![Game 6 in Houston: Thunder 103, Rockets 94 - Chandler Parson drives the ball.]()
Game 6 in Houston: Thunder 103, Rockets 94 - Chandler Parson drives the ball.
Troy Taormina, USA TODAY Sports Related story Fullscreen ![Game 6 in Houston: Thunder 103, Rockets 94 - Kevin Durant reacts after a foul.]()
Game 6 in Houston: Thunder 103, Rockets 94 - Kevin Durant reacts after a foul.
Troy Taormina, USA TODAY Sports Related story Fullscreen ![Game 5 in Oklahoma City: Rockets 107, Thunder 100 - Kevin Durant looks to make a move with Francisco Garcia defending.]()
Game 5 in Oklahoma City: Rockets 107, Thunder 100 - Kevin Durant looks to make a move with Francisco Garcia defending.
Mark D. Smith, USA TODAY Sports Related story Fullscreen ![Game 5 in Oklahoma City: Rockets 107, Thunder 100 - James Harden drives as Reggie Jackson and Thabo Sefolosha defend.]()
Game 5 in Oklahoma City: Rockets 107, Thunder 100 - James Harden drives as Reggie Jackson and Thabo Sefolosha defend.
Mark D. Smith, USA TODAY Sports Related story Fullscreen ![Game 5 in Oklahoma City: Rockets 107, Thunder 100 - Chandler Parsons drives on Thabo Sefolosha.]()
Game 5 in Oklahoma City: Rockets 107, Thunder 100 - Chandler Parsons drives on Thabo Sefolosha.
Mark D. Smith, USA TODAY Sports Related story Fullscreen ![Game 5 in Oklahoma City: Rockets 107, Thunder 100 - Kevin Durant helps up Kevin Martin and Derek Fisher.]()
Game 5 in Oklahoma City: Rockets 107, Thunder 100 - Kevin Durant helps up Kevin Martin and Derek Fisher.
Mark D. Smith, USA TODAY Sports Related story Fullscreen ![Game 4 in Houston: Rockets 105, Thunder 103 -- Chandler Parsons (25) drives to the bucket against Kevin Durant (35). Parsons had 27 points, 10 rebounds and eight assists to help the Rockets avoid a sweep.]()
Game 4 in Houston: Rockets 105, Thunder 103 -- Chandler Parsons (25) drives to the bucket against Kevin Durant (35). Parsons had 27 points, 10 rebounds and eight assists to help the Rockets avoid a sweep.
Brett Davis, USA TODAY Sports Related story Fullscreen ![Game 4 in Houston: Rockets 105, Thunder 103 -- Chandler Parsons (25) blocks a shot attempt by Reggie Jackson (15) during the second half.]()
Game 4 in Houston: Rockets 105, Thunder 103 -- Chandler Parsons (25) blocks a shot attempt by Reggie Jackson (15) during the second half.
Brett Davis, USA TODAY Sports Related story Fullscreen ![Game 4 in Houston: Rockets 105, Thunder 103 -- Kevin Durant crashes into the scorer's table during the second half. Durant poured in a game-high 38 points for Oklahoma City, but it wasn't enough to close out Houston.]()
Game 4 in Houston: Rockets 105, Thunder 103 -- Kevin Durant crashes into the scorer's table during the second half. Durant poured in a game-high 38 points for Oklahoma City, but it wasn't enough to close out Houston.
Brett Davis, USA TODAY Sports Related story Fullscreen ![Game 4 in Houston: Rockets 105, Thunder 103 -- Carlos Delfino, right, throws down a one-handed jam against Kevin Durant during the second half.]()
Game 4 in Houston: Rockets 105, Thunder 103 -- Carlos Delfino, right, throws down a one-handed jam against Kevin Durant during the second half.
Brett Davis, USA TODAY Sports Related story Fullscreen ![Game 4 in Houston: Rockets 105, Thunder 103 -- Reggie Jackson (15) and Francisco Garcia scramble for a loose ball during the fourth quarter.]()
Game 4 in Houston: Rockets 105, Thunder 103 -- Reggie Jackson (15) and Francisco Garcia scramble for a loose ball during the fourth quarter.
Brett Davis, USA TODAY Sports Related story Fullscreen ![Game 3 in Houston: Thunder 104, Rockets 101 - Kevin Martin drives to the basket.]()
Game 3 in Houston: Thunder 104, Rockets 101 - Kevin Martin drives to the basket.
Troy Taormina, USA TODAY Sports Related story Fullscreen ![Houston Rockets point guard Jeremy Lin (7) drives the ball to the basket during the first quarter against the Oklahoma City Thunder during game three in the first round of the 2013 NBA playoffs at the Toyota Center.]()
Houston Rockets point guard Jeremy Lin (7) drives the ball to the basket during the first quarter against the Oklahoma City Thunder during game three in the first round of the 2013 NBA playoffs at the Toyota Center.
Troy Taormina, USA TODAY Sports Related story Fullscreen ![Game 3 in Houston: Thunder 104, Rockets 101 - Kevin Durant posts up on Chandler Parsons.]()
Game 3 in Houston: Thunder 104, Rockets 101 - Kevin Durant posts up on Chandler Parsons.
Troy Taormina, USA TODAY Sports Related story Fullscreen ![Game 3 in Houston: Thunder 104, Rockets 101 - James Harden goes up for a dunk.]()
Game 3 in Houston: Thunder 104, Rockets 101 - James Harden goes up for a dunk.
Troy Taormina, USA TODAY Sports Related story Fullscreen ![Game 2 in Oklahoma City: Thunder 105, Rockets 102- Kevin Durant reacts after scoring.]()
Game 2 in Oklahoma City: Thunder 105, Rockets 102- Kevin Durant reacts after scoring.
Mark D. Smith, USA TODAY Sports Related story Fullscreen ![Game 2 in Oklahoma City: Thunder 105, Rockets 102- James Harden goes up for a layup.]()
Game 2 in Oklahoma City: Thunder 105, Rockets 102- James Harden goes up for a layup.
Mark D. Smith, USA TODAY Sports Related story Fullscreen ![Game 2 in Oklahoma City: Thunder 105, Rockets 102- Kevin Durant posts up on Chandler Parsons.]()
Game 2 in Oklahoma City: Thunder 105, Rockets 102- Kevin Durant posts up on Chandler Parsons.
Mark D. Smith, USA TODAY Sports Related story Fullscreen ![Game 2 in Oklahoma City: Thunder 105, Rockets 102 - James Harden drives on Serge Ibaka.]()
Game 2 in Oklahoma City: Thunder 105, Rockets 102 - James Harden drives on Serge Ibaka.
Mark D. Smith, USA TODAY Sports Related story Fullscreen ![Game 1 in Oklahoma City: Thunder 120, Rockets 91 - Rockets guard Jeremy Lin drives through Thunder defenders Thabo Sefolosha and Kevin Durant.]()
Game 1 in Oklahoma City: Thunder 120, Rockets 91 - Rockets guard Jeremy Lin drives through Thunder defenders Thabo Sefolosha and Kevin Durant.
Mark D. Smith, USA TODAY Sports Related story Fullscreen ![Game 1 in Oklahoma City: Thunder 120, Rockets 91 - Thunder forward Kevin Durant blocks Rockets guard Carlos Delfino's shot.]()
Game 1 in Oklahoma City: Thunder 120, Rockets 91 - Thunder forward Kevin Durant blocks Rockets guard Carlos Delfino's shot.
Mark D. Smith, USA TODAY Sports Related story Fullscreen ![Game 1 in Oklahoma City: Thunder 120, Rockets 91 - Rockets guard James Harden drives against Thunder guard Thabo Sefolosha.]()
Game 1 in Oklahoma City: Thunder 120, Rockets 91 - Rockets guard James Harden drives against Thunder guard Thabo Sefolosha.
Mark D. Smith, USA TODAY Sports Related story Fullscreen ![Game 1 in Oklahoma City: Thunder 120, Rockets 91 - Fans were given free T-shirts with a team emphasis.]()
Game 1 in Oklahoma City: Thunder 120, Rockets 91 - Fans were given free T-shirts with a team emphasis.
Mark D. Smith, USA TODAY Sports
