Spurs rout James Harden, Rockets 114-75 to win series
HOUSTON — San Antonio is heading to the Western Conference finals for the 13th time thanks to a player who has never been there.
The Spurs eliminated the sluggish James Harden and Houston Rockets with a 114-75 victory in Game 6 on Thursday night behind a season-high 34 points from LaMarcus Aldridge in a game they played without All-Star Kawhi Leonard.
Aldridge, who is in his 11th season and second in San Antonio, had failed to get out of the second round in his previous six post-season trips. He added 12 rebounds in his second big game of the Western Conference semifinal series to pick up the scoring slack with Leonard out after rolling his ankle in San Antonio’s overtime victory in Game 5 on Tuesday night.
“He’s really turned it on,” coach Gregg Popovich said. “Demanded the ball, got in good position … he was wonderful on the boards and of course he passes it really, really well and gets it moving for us.”