Final
Rockets-Clippers Preview
Nov 7, 2015 - 7:58 AMVideo
With May's playoff defeat to Houston still fresh in their minds, the Clippers take on the Rockets for the first time since that memorable Western Conference semifinal Saturday night.
Los Angeles seemed well on its way to advancing to its first conference finals in franchise history before the Rockets became the ninth team in league history to overcome a 3-1 series deficit. In Houston's most recent visit to Staples Center, it rallied from 17 points down in the third quarter and outscored the Clippers 40-15 in the fourth for a momentum-shifting 119-107 victory in Game 6.
"Just like every other year when you lose in the playoffs, you think about it," Clippers forward Blake Griffin said. "Maybe I thought about it a little bit longer."
The collapse prompted a few notable changes to the Clippers' roster, with proven playoff performer Paul Pierce and Josh Smith brought in to strengthen a bench that was outscored 98-61 by Houston's second unit in the final three defeats.
Los Angeles (4-1) has again looked like a legitimate contender through the early part of this season, winning its first four games and turning a 17-point first-half deficit Wednesday at Golden State into a 10-point lead with under eight minutes left. But once again the Clippers failed to finish, as the undefeated Warriors countered with a 16-2 run en route to a 112-108 triumph.
''We had a lot of game-plan mistakes throughout the game,'' Clippers coach Doc Rivers said. ''That's the difference right now between us and them, them being together and them executing.''
Chris Paul had 24 points and nine assists for the Clippers and is probable for Saturday's showdown despite exiting Wednesday's loss in the final seconds with a strained groin.
Griffin is averaging 28.2 points through Los Angeles' first five outings and recorded 26.9 points and 12.3 rebounds per game during its playoff series with Houston. He was limited to 11 points, though, as the Rockets halted a seven-game skid at Staples Center with a 100-98 win on March 15.
James Harden scored 34 points in that game and totaled 55 in Houston's two regular-season victories over Los Angeles in 2014-15. The 2015 MVP runner-up mustered 25 in the Rockets' two non-playoff defeats to the Clippers.
Harden and Houston got off to an 0-3 start, but he and the Rockets have been on fire of late as they've climbed back to .500 at 3-3. The All-Star guard is averaging 36.0 points during the Rockets' three-game winning streak, highlighted by his 43-point, 13-assist outburst in Friday's 116-110 decision at Sacramento.
''I've tried to be patient and take what the defenses have been giving me,'' he said. ''I've been trying to find something, anything ... to find any rhythm I can.''
The Rockets prevailed despite Dwight Howard sitting out to rest his troublesome back. Second-year center Clint Capela started in his place and posted career highs of 13 points and 12 rebounds.
Howard is expected to play Saturday, which should give a needed boost to a rotation that's currently missing forwards Terrence Jones (lacerated eyelid) and Donatas Motiejunas (back surgery) and guard Patrick Beverley (concussion).
- End of 4th Quarter.
Nov 8 1:10 AM - HOUSTON: 109
LOS ANGELES: 105
Final
Nov 8 1:09 AM - HOUSTON: 109
LOS ANGELES: 105
End of Regulation
Nov 8 1:09 AM - 229
rootsRUWTbot Added 6 roots (Close Finish, Individual Performance)
Rockets 107, Clippers 105 4th - 0:32Nov 8 1:01 AM - 223
rootsRUWTbot Added 18 roots (Close Finish, Individual Performance)
Rockets 105, Clippers 105 4th - 0:40Nov 8 1:00 AM - 205
rootsRUWTbot Added 24 roots (Close Finish, Individual Performance)
Rockets 103, Clippers 98 4th - 2:36Nov 8 12:54 AM - 181
rootsRUWTbot Took away 27 roots (Close Finish, Individual Performance)
Rockets 102, Clippers 96 4th - 2:52Nov 8 12:53 AM - 208
rootsRUWTbot Added 25 roots (Close Finish, Individual Performance)
Rockets 101, Clippers 96 4th - 3:07Nov 8 12:50 AM - 183
rootsRUWTbot Took away 26 roots (Close Finish, Individual Performance)
Rockets 101, Clippers 95 4th - 3:09Nov 8 12:49 AM - 209
rootsRUWTbot Added 27 roots (Close Finish, Individual Performance)
Rockets 99, Clippers 94 4th - 4:14Nov 8 12:46 AM - 182
rootsRUWTbot Added 7 roots (Close Finish, Individual Performance)
Rockets 99, Clippers 92 4th - 4:38Nov 8 12:45 AM - 175
rootsRUWTbot Added 24 roots (Close Finish, Individual Performance)
Rockets 99, Clippers 92 4th - 4:56Nov 8 12:45 AM - 151
rootsRUWTbot Added 36 roots (Close Finish, Individual Performance)
Rockets 99, Clippers 90 4th - 5:21Nov 8 12:41 AM - 115
roots - 152
rootsRUWTbot Added 33 roots (Close Finish, Individual Performance)
Rockets 96, Clippers 87 4th - 6:06Nov 8 12:37 AM - 119
roots - 146
rootsRUWTbot Added 28 roots (Close Finish, Individual Performance)
Rockets 95, Clippers 86 4th - 6:58Nov 8 12:33 AM - 118
roots - 150
rootsRUWTbot Added 27 roots (Close Finish, Individual Performance)
Rockets 93, Clippers 84 4th - 7:42Nov 8 12:32 AM - 123
roots - 138
rootsRUWTbot Added 24 roots (Close Finish, Individual Performance)
Rockets 90, Clippers 82 4th - 9:46Nov 8 12:27 AM - 114
rootsRUWTbot Took away 18 roots (Individual Performance)
Rockets 90, Clippers 80 4th - 10:04Nov 8 12:27 AM - 132
rootsRUWTbot Took away 36 roots (Close Finish, Individual Performance)
Rockets 88, Clippers 80 4th - 10:40Nov 8 12:23 AM - 168
rootsRUWTbot Added 8 roots (Close Finish, Individual Performance)
Rockets 85, Clippers 80 4th - 11:06Nov 8 12:23 AM - End of 3rd Quarter.
Nov 8 12:19 AM - HOUSTON: 83
LOS ANGELES: 79
End of 3rd
Nov 8 12:19 AM - 160
roots - 151
roots - 137
roots - 132
roots - 122
roots - 110
roots - 121
roots - 109
roots - 87
roots - 82
roots - 48
roots - 79
roots - 72
roots - 48
rootsRUWTbot Took away 22 roots (Individual Performance)
Rockets 56, Clippers 61 3rd - 11:29Nov 7 11:56 PM - End of 1st Half.
Nov 7 11:39 PM - HOUSTON: 56
LOS ANGELES: 58
Halftime
Nov 7 11:39 PM - HOUSTON: 32
LOS ANGELES: 32
End of 1st
Nov 7 11:07 PM - End of 1st Quarter.
Nov 7 11:07 PM - HOUSTON: 0
LOS ANGELES: 0
1st Quarter - 12:00
Nov 7 10:41 PM - Dwight Howard vs. DeAndre Jordan (Austin Rivers gains possession)
Nov 7 10:41 PM
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