The Los Angeles Clippers came into Friday nights game tied up 1-1 after a loss to The Rockets Wednesday night, but for one half the Rockets hung in there with the Clippers.
With a 64-57 lead at halftime thanks to James Harden’s buzzer beater it would give the Rockets hope of coming back to win this game.
The Clippers did a phenomenal job keeping Harden off the free throw line, and defending him well.
Harden only got to the line 5 times and Blake Griffin discussed the mentality going against Harden.
“Whenever he has big games, he gets to the free throw line a lot,” Griffin said of Harden.-
The Clippers came into the 3rd quarter looking to create some seperation with the lead and they did.
Austin Rivers acquired in a trade this season has been huge in the post season filling in for the injured Chris Paul, but tonight was different. Rivers would end up with 25 points on 10/13 shooting and 6 rebounds he was a big part of the momentum shift in the 3rd quarter.
Rivers big game also gave us a special exchange between Chris Paul and Doc Rivers during the game.
One of the better moments I’ve ever seen and you can tell the chemistry between Chris Paul and Doc Rivers is where it needs to be too.
The Rockets defense gave up 35 points while only scoring 19 which just cannot happen. From that point on the Rockets were out of it.
Jason Terry would be ejected in the fourth for a flagrant foul while the game was out of reach which the Rockets just looked frustrated after the third quarter.
The Clippers would go on to win 124-99 Blake Griffin also turned in another big performance with 22 points and 14 rebounds.
In Paul’s first game back he would have 12 points and 7 assists in 23 minutes he looked a bit rusty considering he didn’t play for 5 days.
James Harden had 25 points and 11 assists which is still pretty good considering he only got to the line 5 times.
The Clippers bench would outscore the Rockets 46-25, and Rivers had 25 on his own which is impressive and the tables have turned considering the Clippers have been marked as a team that has no depth.
The Rockets and Clippers will face off once again Sunday at 8:30 in hopes of taking a 3-1 lead to move closer to the Western Conference Finals.
