Sports

Rockets heat up from 3, force Game 5 against Thunder back in Oklahoma City

Associated Press
Published | Updated

Oklahoma City Thunder's Kevin Durant (35) goes up for a shot as Houston Rockets' Omer Asik (3) defends during the second half of Game 4 in a first-round NBA basketball playoff series Monday, April 29, 2013, in Houston. The Rockets beat the Thunder 105-103. (AP Photo/David J. Phillip) (The Associated Press)

Oklahoma City Thunder's Kevin Durant (35) dunks the ball as Houston Rockets' Omer Asik (3) defends during the second half of Game 4 in a first-round NBA basketball playoff series Monday, April 29, 2013, in Houston. The Rockets beat the Thunder 105-103. (AP Photo/David J. Phillip) (The Associated Press)

The Oklahoma City Thunder are trying to get their defense back on track after failing to close out the Houston Rockets.

Coach Scott Brooks said Tuesday the Thunder are especially disappointed in their third-quarter defense in Game 4, when Houston scored 38 points. Brooks says Oklahoma City doesn't like to give up 30 points in a quarter.

Over the course of the series, Houston has steadily become a more dangerous 3-point shooting team. After opening the series by making just 22 percent of their 3-pointers in a Game 1 blowout, the Rockets have improved their mark in each game and made 44 percent in a 104-102 win in Game 4 on Monday night.

That forced a Game 5 on Wednesday night in Oklahoma City.