But Houston cannot afford to let bench players Gary Payton II and Buddy Hield make major impacts. Payton finished with a postseason career-high 16 points, including 11 in the fourth quarter, and Hield was 5-for-11 on 3-point attempts to help finish with 17 points in 29 minutes.

Houston lost 104-93 as a 1.5-point road underdog in Game 3 Saturday as the Under (205) cashed. G Fred VanVleet's 17 points led 5 Rockets in double figures, but the team shot a dismal 39.5% from the field (34-for-86) and squandered a 13-point lead in the loss.