2018 NBA Playoffs: One Big Takeaway from the First 2 Games of Each Playoff series

#5 The Rockets know how to win ugly, and how to win spectacularly too

Clint Capela rejects KAT's runner in Game 1

The Timberwolves ran the Rockets close in what finished as a one-possession Game 1. That was after the Timberwolves' All-Stars Jimmy Butler and Karl-Anthony Towns had only scored 13 and 8 points respectively - the majority of their scoring came from their role players, whereas the Rockets had Harden to thank for an incredible shooting exhibition, which proved to be the difference between the two teams.

The Rockets had won this game despite the rest of their roster (save Harden) had shot just 3 3-pointers in 48 minutes of game time. An ugly win, all things considered.

Fans heading into Game 2 expecting another close match were denied expectations when the Rockets ran out blowout winners at 102-82. This was a game when Point God Chris Paul displayed how big of a basketball savant he is, pulling out handles left, right and center on the way to 27 points, 8 assists and 3 steals.

The Rockets shot 16 3-pointers in this game, of which Paul and Harden contributed only 4. Even Clint Capela, who'd had a great game 1 with 24 points and 12 rebounds, scored only 8 in this one.

The likes of Gerald Green and Trevor Ariza played their part, scoring 21 and 15 points respectively.

When the Rockets' role players come to play, most teams in the league get blown out as the Wolves were in Game 2.