THE Houston Rockets withstood a brilliant individual performance from Oklahoma City Thunder star Russell Westbrook to become the third team to qualify for the conference semifinals in the NBA playoffs.

    Westbrook poured in 47 points, grabbed 11 rebounds and handed out nine assists but it was not enough to prevent Houston seeing off the Thunder 105-99 at Toyota Center.

    To emphasize Westbrook’s dominance for the visitors, the next-best scoring Thunder players were Alex Abrines and Jerami Grant with just 11 points apiece.

    The victory earned Houston a 4-1 series win and a place in the last eight, where they join already-qualified Golden State and Cleveland.

    Houston, for whom James Harden contributed 34 points, await the winners of the San Antonio Spurs-Memphis Grizzlies clash.

    The Spurs now lead that series 3-2 after winning game five 116-103 at AT&T Center.

    Kawhi Leonard led with 28 points for San Antonio but he received good support with five of his teammates scoring in double figures.

    In the night’s other game, the Utah Jazz edged out the Los Angeles Clippers 96-92 at Staples Center to take a 3-2 lead in their series.

    Gordon Hayward paced the Jazz with 27 points while teammate Rudy Gobert’s double-double of 11 points and 11 rebounds also helped keep their opponents at bay.

    Chris Paul (28 points) and JJ Redick (26 points) provided the bulk of the Clippers’ points but the hosts — who overcame a 11-point deficit early in the fourth quarter to level the scores at 69-69 — just ran out of steam in the end.

    (SD-Agencies)