Rockets forward Chandler Parsons grabs a rebound during Game 4 vs. the Thunder. (Photo: Brett Davis, USA TODAY Sports) HOUSTON — With his Houston Rockets facing elimination, Chandler Parsons flirted with a triple-double to stun Kevin Durant and the Oklahoma City Thunder. Durant scored 38 overall, but the Rockets weren't going to be beaten by him again as they were last game. They forced the ball out of his hands out of the final possession and caught a break when Serge Ibaka's tip in at the buzzer came up a little bit short. That left it 105-103, the Rockets cutting their series deficit to 3-1 in Game 4. The Rockets came out with the sense of urgency you would expect a team that was playing with their season on the line to have. They established a 13-4 lead four minutes in, but Durant used that as a cue to get aggressive. After setting up DeAndre Liggins for a triple, Durant went on to score eight straight and tie the game at 16. BOX SCORE: Rockets 105, Thunder 103 SCHEDULE: First-round times, TV info That's where Durant's early flurry would end, tough, as the Rockets regained control and went into the second quarter with a 24-29 advantage. Harden's struggles weren't too big of a concern in the opening period because the team — especially Parsons, who had 27 points, 10 rebounds and eight assists, and Carlos Delfino — was hot from three. They became an issue when they carried over into the second quarter. As Harden was stuck on one field goal, Durant continued his assault on the Rockets defense and Kevin Martin hit his stride. Martin, the Thunder's clear cut second option behind Durant now with Westbrook out, scored 14 in the first half. His triple with 1:13 remaining in the half put the Thunder up 13, their biggest lead of the game. With potentially 25 minutes left in their season, the Rockets outscored the Thunder 8-2 in the final minute to get within seven at halftime. The momentum would completely shift over to Houston's side in the third quarter. After having one made field goals to seven turnovers in the first half, Harden would score nine in the third. Parsons paced them early on in the quarter, scoring six in a 13-0 run to open the second half. At the 2:13 mark of the third the Rockets had completed a 26 point turnaround in 11 minutes flat, matching the Thunder's game-high lead of 13 with a 90-77 lead of their own. That wasn't even the scariest moment of the period. Thunder nation collectively held their breath when Durant took a hard stumble into the scorer's table and came up holding his right wrist in pain. He stayed on the floor, though, as the Thunder trimmed six off of the Rockets lead before the fourth. Both teams had four players with at least four fouls going into the final period. Most notably was Harden, who picked up his fifth with 6:52 remaining. He went to the bench with his team up 98-92, which they would maintain despite some scares until he returned at the three minute mark. A Derek Fisher three would have brought the Thunder to within three upon Harden's return, but it was ruled a shot clock violation after official review. Durant, the hero from Game 3, was called for an offensive foul with 35 seconds left and his team down by two. They would force a Harden Miss on the next possession, but couldn't come up with the game winner. The series will now shift back to Oklahoma City for Game 5, where the Thunder will once again try to close out the Rockets. PHOTOS: Top shots from Rockets-Thunder series Story Highlights
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Source : http://www.usatoday.com/story/sports/nba/playoffs/2013/04/30/houston-rockets-oklahoma-city-thunder-game-4-chandler-parsons-kevin-durant/2122725/
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