HOUSTON (AP) — James Harden’s message was simple and clear after the Houston Rockets’ first playoff series victory since 2009.

“It’s just the beginning,” the bearded superstar said. “We’ve got bigger goals than this.”

Harden scored 28 points, Terrence Jones had 10 of his 15 in the fourth quarter, and the Rockets beat the Dallas Mavericks 103-94 on Tuesday night to get out of the first round and exorcise any bad feelings that lingered from last year’s opening-round loss to Portland.

Houston won the Western Conference series 4-1 to advance to face the winner of the Clippers-Spurs series in the second round.

Spurs 111,
Clippers 107

 LOS ANGELES (AP) — Tim Duncan scored 12 of his 21 points in the second half, and DeAndre Jordan was called for basket interference with 4.3 seconds left as the San Antonio Spurs moved to the brink of the second round with a 111-107 victory over the Los Angeles Clippers in Game 5 on Tuesday night.