NBA Playoffs : Rockets Beat Nuggets in Double Overtime, Win Series

With three of their stars on the bench at the end, the Houston Rockets proved to their detractors that they belong among the NBA’s best.

Lewis Lloyd and Rodney McCray hit key jumpers in the final 1:45 of a second overtime period Thursday night as the Rockets, despite losing Akeem Olajuwon, who was ejected after drawing a double technical, and Ralph Sampson and point guard Robert Reid, who fouled out, outlasted the Denver Nuggets, 126-122, and won their NBA Western Conference semifinal playoff series.

The Rockets, defeating Denver, 4-2, advanced to the Western Conference final against the Lakers. Game 1 of that series will be played Saturday at 12:30 p.m. at the Forum.

“I think Houston has a great chance of beating Los Angeles if they don’t tighten up during the close games,” Denver Coach Doug Moe said. “I really think they’ll win.”

Houston, trailing by as many as 12 points, sent the game into overtime on the play of Olajuwon and Jim Petersen. Olajuwon, who finished with 28 points, scored 12 in the final quarter before being ejected with 6:08 left in regulation. His replacement, Petersen, scored seven straight points to put Houston ahead, 100-95, with 4:48 left.

But Calvin Natt’s three-point play produced a 104-104 tie with 1:49 remaining, and the teams then traded baskets, with Sampson’s dunk accounting for a 108-108 tie at the end of regulation.

Petersen got a quick basket to start the overtime, but he drew his sixth foul moments later. Sampson followed suit with 1:40 left in overtime. Natt scored on that play but missed the free throw, leaving the score tied, 114-114.

Natt’s inside move got Denver up 116-114, but Mitchell Wiggins countered for Houston on a baseline drive with 37 seconds remaining. He was fouled on the play, but missed the free throw. Both teams missed subsequent shots to force the second overtime.