The Houston Rockets have secured a place in the Western Conference semi-finals after clinching a 103-94 win in game five of their first-round series against the Dallas Mavericks, giving them a 4-1 win over their Texas rivals.
Josh Smith and Dwight Howard piled the points on in the first quarter, putting the home side nine points ahead after the opening 12 minutes.
Dirk Nowitzki added a series of free throws and some two-point efforts before the break to cut the Mavericks' deficit, but they were still six points behind at the break.
Monta Ellis got the visitors off to a bright start in the second half, leaving Dallas just two points down, but James Harden responded every time it looked like Houston could be caught, re-establishing the gap for the home side on his way to finishing with 28 points.
The result means that Houston will face the winner of the series between the San Antonio Spurs and Los Angeles Clippers in the next round.
Sian Cowper
