Houston Rockets Get The Hook By LA Clippers 110-95

The Houston Rockets were witnesses head on of the second night of a back-to-back on the road.

After grinding it out against the Phoenix Suns in last night’s grand 127-118 win, the Rockets had to press on face the Los Angeles Clippers, a team that they haven’t seemed to figure out just yet.

Every time we face this team, I always have the feeling that we’re going to be over-matched and that was certainly the case last night.

One would think that the Rockets would’ve had a competitive advantage with star forward Blake Griffin out with a staph infection but didn’t happen.

That team is so deep at all positions that Doc Rivers can just snap his fingers and call the next man up off the bench.

It was cringing to watch the Rockets attempt to do so but they did the best they possibly could to keep up with Clip Show, to which was for quite awhile.

The 1st quarter was one of promise as the Rockets were able to match the Clippers basket-for-basket after a shaky roll-out.

Trevor Ariza missed a three-pointer, the Rockets’ first shot attempt that night and then that was followed by a Patrick Beverley turnover picked off by Chris Paul.

These teams duked it out and both were tied at 26-all at the end of the 1st quarter.

It was more of the same for the 2nd quarter, but the Clippers did go a 5-0 run led by a DeAndre Jordan put-back dunk, two Matt Barnes free throws off a James Harden foul in addition to Jordan making one of two free throws off a Joey Dorsey foul.

Feb 11, 2015; Los Angeles, CA, USA; Los Angeles Clippers guard

Chris Paul

(left) attempts to pass the ball defended by Houston Rockets guard

James Harden

(right) during the second quarter at Staples Center. Mandatory Credit: Kelvin Kuo-USA TODAY Sports

This caused the team to take a brief seven-point lead with 4:39 left. Clippers 46, Rockets 39

On the next possession, Josh Smith hit a three-pointer to close the gap a bit 47-42 with 4:20 left.

The Rockets did take the lead after a Beverley three and Smith power dunk putting the Rockets up 56-52 with 45 seconds left.

But Barnes countered with a finger roll to end the 1st half with 33 seconds left. Halftime Score: Rockets 56, Clippers 54

The third quarter was a fun to watch as two of the Headband of Brothers — Smith and Corey Brewer — worked together by playing defense and hitting key buckets when needed.

Brewer provided seven critical points in that quarter in key moments to keep the Rockets in the game.

Harden only had nine points so it was up to the rest of the Rockets to go big to try to help this team.

Part of the Clippers defensive strategy was shut down Harden and dare the rest of our team to beat them.

The would also prove to be Harden’s only points of the night.

At that point, the Rockets were up to the challenge.

Harden actually scored that 9th point off technical foul on Rivers after arguing a personal foul call on J.J. Reddick.

Feb 11, 2015; Los Angeles, CA, USA; Houston Rockets center

Dwight Howard

(12) laughs while sitting on the sideline during the second quarter against the Los Angeles Clippers at Staples Center. Mandatory Credit: Kelvin Kuo-USA TODAY Sports

Ultimately, the Rockets hung tough and were right in the hunt trailing the Clippers by one, 80-79 at the end of the third.

It was the 4th quarter when the Clippers started to pull away as result of the likes of Jamal Crawford who was hitting shot-after-shot and finger-rolling his way into the lane to keep his team up.

The Rockets would counter but it would not be enough compared the firepower that he was putting out.

The team never recovered from that as the game’s pace was tremendously slowed by a smorgasbord of free throws shot by the Clippers within the last five minutes.

It was to the tune of the Clips going 15-of-21 from the line during that stretch with Jordan missing the bulk of those attempts.

We were trying to get back in the game with hacking Jordan but it just was not enough as the Rockets fell to the Clippers 110-95.

Brewer led all Rockets scorers with 22 points while Smith was the overall best performer for last night with a double-double, his third of the season.

He had 21 points, 13 rebounds and two blocks in the team’s effort.

Harden’s nine points were off 3-for-12 shooting and 0-for-7 from behind-the-arc. It painfully obvious that the Clippers shut him down and there was little he could do about it.

Feb 11, 2015; Los Angeles, CA, USA; Houston Rockets guard James Harden (left) talks with Los Angeles Clippers guard J.J. Reddick (right) during the second quarter at Staples Center. Mandatory Credit: Kelvin Kuo-USA TODAY Sports

By the way, Jordan’s stat line was video game-esque! He had 24 points, 20 rebounds including going 12-for-26 from the charity stripe!

He comprised nearly 41 percent of the Clippers 49 rebounds last night!

I have to admit, it made me cringe but this was one of his better games of the season with this game being the third of their last six where he was able to get at least 20 points and 20 rebounds.

It just sucks it had to be against us!