NBA playoffs wrap 2018: Rockets pushes Warriors to brink of elimination

The Rockets is one win away from the NBA Finals as it took a 3-2 series lead with a 98-94 victory in Game 5.

James Harden (left) drives against Stephen Curry of Golden State Warriors in the Game 5 of the Western Conference Finals.

The Rockets has done something a team hasn't done in a very long time. Houston forced the Warriors to the brink of elimination.

Chris Paul, James Harden and the Rockets took down the Warriors 98-94 to go up 3-2 in the Western Conference Finals. It wasn't a pretty game as Golden State turned the ball over 17 times and Harden went 0 for 11 from 3-point range, but it was enough for Houston to put the pressure on the Warriors.

"We've got to rely on our defense once again," Harden told TNT after the game. "Game 4 we weren't making shots but defensively we were really good, same thing tonight."

The Rockets held the Warriors to 45.1 percent shooting from the floor on Thursday and has now held Golden State under 46 percent in all three wins in the series.

Golden State hasn't shot that poorly since Game 3 of the semifinals against the Pelicans.

Houston now has a chance to close out the series on Saturday at Oracle Arena in Oakland, Calif.

STUDS OF THE NIGHT

Klay Thompson went 8-of-14 shooting and 4 of 7 from 3-point range with 23 points and four rebounds.

Rockets center Clint Capela dominated the paint early in the first half. He finished with 12 points, 14 rebounds and two blocks.

DUDS OF THE NIGHT

Warriors bench: David West, Quinn Cook, Jordan Bell, Shaun Livingston and Nick Young combined to play 53 minutes and scored just four points on 2-of-8 shooting. It went 0 for 3 from 3-point range.

WHAT'S NEXT

Celtics (3-2) at Cavaliers (2-3) — LeBron James could be playing his last game ever on Friday as a Cavalier. Do you believe that? We don't either, but it technically could be true. Make sure you don't miss it.