HOUSTON, May 3 (Xinhua) -- Kevin Durant scored 27 points as the visiting Oklahoma City Thunder defeated the Houston Rockets 103-94 and moved into the second round of the NBA playoffs on Friday night.
Kevin Martin added 25 points for the top-seeded Thunder, who will host the Memphis Grizzlies in the Western Conference semifinals starting Sunday afternoon in Oklahoma City.
Never before has a team rallied from a 3-0 deficit to win an NBA playoff series. The Rockets were halfway to accomplishing the task after winning two straight, but failed to go farther Friday.
James Harden scored 26 points, six rebounds and seven assists for the Rockets. Chandler Parsons added 25 points and Omer Asik 13 points.
The Rockets had one last burst, rushing from a halftime deficit to a 10-point third quarter lead. But the Thunder opened the fourth quarter with a big run to take the lead and cruise to the victory.
"In that fourth quarter with about seven minutes left we were just stagnant. We couldn't get any movement or make any shots," Harden said.
"Our turnovers hurt us and our lack of movement," Rockets coach Kevin McHale said.
Friday night's loss ended the Rockets season in the first round for the eighth time in nine playoff seasons.