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Randolph leads Clippers to second straight win

Dec 14, 2008 - 7:06 AM LOS ANGELES (Ticker) -- Break up the Clippers!

Zach Randolph had 30 points and 13 rebounds as the Los Angeles Clippers rocked the Houston Rockets, 95-82, on Saturday for their second straight win and third in four games.

"I can't see a flaw or a negative thing in his game," Clippers center Marcus Camby said of Randolph, who was acquired from the New York Knicks. "He has been as advertised. They said he's 20 (points) and 10 (rebounds) and he's been getting 40 and 10 or 30 and 10. He's been doing it all for us."

The Clippers used a surge bridging the third and fourth quarters to take control. The game was tied at 58-58 when Los Angeles went on a 22-9 run. Al Thornton capped the outburst with a layup and a jumper.

"Zach played well, but I think going down the stretch, Al Thornton had it going," Camby said. "He was slashing to the bucket getting easy looks, getting himself to the free-throw line and getting easy points."

Houston coach Rick Adelman didn't like what he saw after intermission.

"I thought we played a very poor second half," Adelman said after the Rockets scored 34 points in the final 24 minutes. "They came to life and we didn't and they took advantage of it.

"I just think we didn't play very smart in the second half. Players got going and got some confidence and now you're really in trouble."

Randolph scored 38 points on Friday when the Clippers downed Portland in double overtime. Los Angeles opened the season 3-16 before its recent run. There is a huge chance for it to continue as Los Angeles next plays at Oklahoma City (2-22) on Tuesday.

"It was real important, especially since we have four games on the road," Randolph said. "We have to try to take it one game at a time."

Randolph played 41 minutes against the Rockets, hitting 12-of-23 shots with three assists and three steals. Thornton added 26 as all five starters reached double figures. The Clippers' starting unit accounted for 91 of the team's 95 points.

Houston was led by Yao Ming with 24 points and Tracy McGrady with 19. They were the only Rockets to reach double figures.

The Rockets had a poor night from the field, hitting 31-of-87 from the field (36 percent).

Yao hit 10-of-17 shots but the other four starters were a combined 13-of-46 from the field. Yao exited for a few minutes in the third quarter with a contusion of the left eye after being accidentally hit by Camby.

Adelman felt his team didn't look to its center enough after his return.

"He went out and checked his eye, but when he came back in, we kept going away from him," Adelman said. "It was like we didn't realize that we had a really good option there."