The Rockets died as they lived: bored out of their minds

Good morning. Let’s basketball.

CLUTCH: The Hornets have won some wild close games this season, and Game 5 in Miami moves to the top of that list. Charlotte came out ahead in the tense game thanks to an offensive rebound and three-pointer by Courtney Lee in the final half-minute and disciplined defense (or a non-call) by Cody Zeller against Dwyane Wade with seconds left. Charlotte can win their first playoff series in 14 years on Friday. Wade had a helluva game for Miami, both dunking and making noted dancer Justise Winslow dance.

NOT ENOUGH: The Clippers fought exceptionally hard in their first game after injuries to CP3 and Blake Griffin. But the Blazers straight-up torched L.A. in the fourth quarter to take a 3-2 series advantage. Portland can put the wraps on an improbable first-round series win on Friday.

GOOD RIDDANCE: The Rockets, you’ll be surprised to learn, rolled over against the Warriors. James Harden scored 35, including every field goal by Houston in the first quarter. But he played Hardenesque defense and no one else on this roster seems to care one bit. Bye now.

J.A. Adande had a really good piece on the team’s dysfunction.

THE GODFATHER: Russell Steinberg on (the ailing) Howard Garfinkel, the godfather of grassroots basketball and a co-founder of the legendary Five-Star Basketball Camps.

WIDE OPEN: Paul Flannery and I talked about the suddenly wide open Western Conference.

SCORES GALORE ...

CHA 90, MIA 88, Hornets lead 3-2
POR 108, LAC 98, Blazers lead 3-2
HOU 81, GSW 114, Warriors win 4-1

ON THE AIR TONIGHT ...

Hawks at Celtics, 8 p.m. ET, TNT, ATL leads 3-2

STILL LEARNING: Rising HS senior Kevin Knox is a top-10 prospect who had to stop playing football because he was getting too tall. Now he’s focusing on basketball and dropping jaws.

POP CHRISS-TAL: Kevin O’Connor on Sacramento-bred draft prospect Marquese Chriss, the biggest dice roll in the draft.

REJECTED: Yao Ming wanted to take the state-run Chinese Basketball Association private in the mold of the NBA. The government rejected his idea. Via REDEF.

THE DREW: Here’s a trailer for The Drew, a Baron Davis-produced documentary on the titular summer league in L.A. The Drew premieres Friday on Showtime.

SO DOPE: Readers of Blazer’s Edge bought tickets for two thousand local kids to attend a Portland game. Incredible work.

THE ATHLETIC: Cheers to Danny Leroux on the launch of his Bay Area-focused hub on The Athletic.

COACHING UPDATES: The Lakers will interview David Blatt and have received permission to interview Luke Walton in the coming days. The Rockets are trying to interview Walton, too. Blatt has met with the Knicks. Is Kevin McHale the front-runner in Sacramento? The Kings are also trying to interview Nate McMillan once the Pacers’ series ends.

MEANWHILE ... The Kings will announce the hire of assistant GM Ken Catanella on Thursday. He’s spent time with the Nets, the league and the Pistons. He has a finance background and is considered a salary cap and analytics expert.

INTERESTING: Ted Leonsis explains why he didn’t consider replacing GM Ernie Grunfeld.

THAT’S LOVE: Nick Young almost got “Born Reble” tattooed on his back until Iggy Azalea saved him. If she really wanted to get him back for the D’Angelo Russell saga she might have bit her tongue ...

HERO: Wayne Ellington won the J. Walter Kennedy Citizenship Award from the Pro Basketball Writers Association. Following the gun death of his father, Ellington channeled his grief into action on gun violence. A real hero. Bless you, Wayne.

Happy Thursday. See you next time.