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HOUSTON — There was an undeniable inevitability in the Houston Rockets finally unleashing their full potential offensively Authentic Customized Jets Jerseys , with the only legitimate ambiguity being exactly when it would happen.

That moment arrived without warning in the third quarter of Game 4, with Houston producing a 50-point outburst that staggered the Minnesota Timberwolves and gave the Rockets control of their Western Conference first-round playoff series. Houston used that eruption to propel it toward a 119-100 victory on Monday night at the Target Center, giving the Rockets a 3-1 lead in the series. It also gave Houston the opportunity to conclude the series at Toyota Center in Game 5 on Wednesday night.

The Rockets had trudged along on offense even while establishing a 2-1 series lead, averaging a pedestrian 103.7 points entering Game 4 while producing a modest 31.5 percentage on 3-pointers. Houston flirted with statistical immortality during the regular season, ranking among the most efficient offenses in league history before losing its edge over the final weeks of the schedule, specifically after the Rockets clinched the top seed in the West at the end of March.

Over their final six regular-season games, the Rockets posted an offensive rating (101.3) that ranked 26th in the NBA. That lagging momentum carried over into the playoffs until the second half on Monday when the Rockets broke free from their lethargy and reclaimed their identity.

“We talked about it going into the game about being aggressive, and I think we all just tried to do that,” said Rockets guard Chris Paul, who paired 25 points with six assists in the victory.

“Just the entire team, we were confident Authentic Justin Bethel Jersey ,” said Rockets guard James Harden, who scored a franchise playoff-record 22 points in the third quarter en route to a game-high 36. “We had a good talk (Sunday), a good practice (Sunday). And even most of the guys stayed after practice just to shoot, shoot the basketball and be aggressive. We had the mentality to be aggressive. Make or miss shots, that’s what we do. We shoot the basketball, and eventually, they start falling.”

In producing the second-most points in any quarter in NBA postseason history, the Rockets not only pushed the Timberwolves to the brink of elimination, they put Minnesota in the precarious position of having to acknowledge what has been obvious all along. The Timberwolves’ defense wasn’t explicitly responsible for the Rockets’ wayward perimeter shooting entering Monday, and when Houston converts open looks at an average clip — the Rockets shot 16 of 43 on 3s — the Timberwolves are essentially helpless at stopping the deluge.

As postseason series extend, team identities solidify. The Rockets reclaiming their offensive rhythm was as predictable an outcome as the Timberwolves showcasing their defensive warts.

Minnesota closed the season ranked 22nd in defensive efficiency (108.4) Jerome Baker Jersey Dolphins , with the foundation of its four losses to the Rockets set on the defensive end. It might be easy to dismiss a 50-point period as an anomaly, but the reality of the Rockets’ offensive momentum can’t be denied. The Timberwolves staved off the inevitable for three-plus games and are now left to hope that the Rockets will start missing again in order for this series to include a return trip to Minneapolis.

“How many points did they score in the third? Fifty? Exactly,” Timberwolves guard Derrick Rose said. “Do we even have to say something? It can be seen easily what happened in the game and why they took off. Our job is to look at film, see what our mistakes were, and try to execute a little better on the defensive end.”

Said Timberwolves center Karl-Anthony Towns: “You’ve got to give it to them. There’s a reason they’re the team they are.”

Billy Price was ready to show off his strength at the NFL combine. During the bench press, the center from Ohio State felt a pain in his chest and thought his chances were ruined.

It all turned out far better than he'd hope on Thursday night.

The Bengals took the center with the 21st overall pick, another addition to their biggest problem area. After watching four quarterbacks go higher in the round, they got someone to protect their own. And as it turned out, he comes from right up the road.

Price grew up in eastern Ohio 鈥?his stepfather was from Pittsburgh so he says he "unfortunately" grew up as a Steelers fan 鈥?and hoped he could stay in-state in the NFL, although it was a long shot. The chest injury was a severe setback to his chances of getting chosen high in the draft.

"The injury happens and the next thing you're thinking, 'Shoot Panthers Ian Thomas Jersey , I'm done,'" Price said in a conference call. "Your stomach just drops. Man, it's like who knows what's going to happen?"

After spending time with him at the combine, the Bengals were convinced he was a good fit as they try to dig their offense out of an all-time low. Cincinnati finished last in the league in yards in 2017 鈥?it had never done so poorly 鈥?and the running game was among the worst in club history.

The main problem was a line that couldn't protect Andy Dalton or open holes for the running game. They knew what had to change.

The Bengals' draft maneuvering started a month ago when they traded the No. 12 overall pick to Buffalo for the 21st pick and left tackle Cordy Glenn , a significant upgrade. They lost center Russell Bodine in the offseason 鈥?he signed a two-year deal with Buffalo 鈥?and needed someone to anchor the middle of the line.

In their minds, Price was a first-round pick even though he's recovering from the chest injury. He's expected to be ready for training camp. Their meeting at the combine left that much of an impression.

"He walks out of that room and everyone was, 'Wow, this is the guy you want to have on your team,'" offensive coordinator Bill Lazor said.

Price won't have to go far for their reunion. He was sitting outside his family's home in Youngstown, Ohio during his conference call, only a five-hour drive across Ohio's interstates.

"It's just an unbelievable feeling right now Kolton Miller Jersey Elite ," he said. "This is exactly what I wanted in this draft, to be able to go high and stay home in Ohio. It's unreal right now."

The pick showed how much Cincinnati has made the offensive line its top priority in the offseason. The Bengals hadn't taken a center with their first overall pick since 1983 when they got Dave Rimington. The only other time they took a center with their first pick was the 1968 expansion draft, when they got Bob Johnson.

The Bengals kept Lazor as coordinator 鈥?he was the interim last season after Ken Zampese was fired two games into the season. Lazor has been given wide latitude to overhaul the offense, and players have noted the many changes in style.

But none of it will work if they don't have a dependable line.

"He can really solidify the front of that pocket," offensive line coach Frank Pollack said. "It's important. He can be a great add for us."

The Bengals are hoping to get a lot more out of their top pick than they did last season, when they also chose someone coming off an injury.

Receiver John Ross was recovering from shoulder surgery when the Bengals drafted him ninth overall. He suffered another shoulder injury during the season and wound up playing in only three games. Ross didn't have a catch, and the only time he touched the ball was on a reverse ended with a fumble. Ross is expected to be fully recovered from his shoulder injury next season.

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