For the Houston Rockets, Game 6 of their 2015 second-round series with the Los Angeles Clippers was largely about the role players, led by Josh Smith and Corey Brewer. Three days later, Game 7 was about the MVP.
James Harden led the way with a game-high 31 points on May 17, 2015, leading the Rockets to a 113-100 home victory (box score) in Game 7. With the win, Houston became the first team to overcome a 3-1 series deficit to advance in the NBA playoffs since 2006. For the Rockets, it marked their first trip to the Western Conference Finals in 18 years.
Harden wasn’t on the floor for most of the fourth quarter in Game 6, when the Rockets finished the game on a 49-18 run to overcome a 19-point deficit late in the third quarter. But he redeemed himself by leading Houston in points (31) and assists (8) in Game 7. After that season, Harden was voted as the league’s MVP by his fellow players.
Trevor Ariza had 22 points on 6-of-12 shooting from 3-point range, including a dagger in the game’s final minute to secure the victory. Dwight Howard scored 16 points and grabbed a team-high 15 rebounds.
Future Rockets guard Chris Paul led the Clippers with 26 points and 10 assists. Though another trip to the West Finals evaded him, Paul eventually made it in 2018 after teaming up with Harden in Houston.
