Houston Rockets Jolt Los Angeles Clippers 110-105

How about my Houston Rockets?

The third time is finally the charm!

I had been hoping for this all season — your Rockets just beat the Los Angeles Clippers for the first time this season.

The past two meetings, we couldn’t seem to find an answer for them.

The first meeting — Nov. 28 — was complete domination by the Clippers, the second meeting that took place just this past Feb. 11 was a much better effort by the Rockets but things fell apart toward the end.

This time, the Rockets did not relent and played nearly 48 minutes of flawless basketball.

Feb 25, 2015; Houston, TX, USA; Los Angeles Clippers guard Chris Paul (3) attempts to score during the fourth quarter as Houston Rockets forward Donatas Motiejunas (20) and forward Terrence Jones (6) defend at Toyota Center. The Rockets defeated the Clippers 110-105. Mandatory Credit: Troy Taormina-USA TODAY Sports

It’s the first time for as long as I can remember that our turnover count was in the single-digits for an entire game.

Yep, the Rockets only committed nine turnovers — that’s right nine.

And for a good chunk of the game, they held at six.

I was extremely impressed on how well they were taking care of the basketball.

Anyway, the 1st quarter involved both teams going at each other tit-for-tat.

The Clippers first score was off a Deandre Jordan dunk with barely 17 ticks off the clock to start the game.

I was shaking my head wondering if this was going to be a long night or not.

Feb 25, 2015; Houston, TX, USA; Houston Rockets guard

James Harden

(13) shoots the ball during the first quarter as Los Angeles Clippers forward

Matt Barnes

(22) defends at Toyota Center. Mandatory Credit: Troy Taormina-USA TODAY Sports

After J.J. Redick hit a three to put them up 5-0, the Rockets answered with a Jason Terry three to put them down by two with the score being 5-3.

The Rockets continued their hot shooting from behind-the-arc with Terry hitting another, along with Donatas Motiejunas and Trevor Ariza chipping in theirs as well.

Jamal Crawford got hot for brief period of time with a quick five points at the midpoint but the clamps were tightened on defense and he was neutralized briefly.

The Rockets found themselves leading at the end of the 1st 27-26.

At the start of the 2nd quarter, the Rockets boosted themselves ahead with an Ariza three to start out, free throws from Corey Brewer off a Glen Davis and Hedo Turkoglu foul, a Terrence Jones put back putting them up by seven with 10:36 left. Rockets 35, Clippers 28

But Crawford got hot again as he continued to drive the lane, draw fouls and hit key buckets to have the Clippers eventually take the lead 42-40 with 6:54 left.

Jones tied the game back up with a layup countered by a Crawford three-pointer, then Pablo Prigioni knocked down his first three-pointer as a Rocket tying the game at 45-all with 5:55 left in the first half.

These teams continued with their hot shooting back-and-forth, sprinkled with some thunderous dunks by Jordan, until the end of the first half where the Rockets led 62-60 at the half.

At that point, the Rockets only had four turnovers, were shooting 45.2 percent from the field and 47.4 from the three-point line.

Well done so far.

Things continued to be jam-packed in the third quarter for the Rockets.

Feb 25, 2015; Houston, TX, USA; Los Angeles Clippers forward

Glen Davis

(0) takes the ball to the basket during the fourth quarter as Houston Rockets forward

Donatas Motiejunas

(20) and guard

Corey Brewer

(33) defend at Toyota Center. The Rockets defeated the Clippers 110-105. Mandatory Credit: Troy Taormina-USA TODAY Sports

After a Terry jumper and an Ariza three, the Rockets briefly took a five point lead with 10:07 left. Rockets 67, Clippers 62

However, Matt Barnes hit a three-pointer along with Jordan being able to convert two free throws off an Ariza foul tying the game at 67-all with 8:23 left.

The pace of the game slowed a bit as both teams combined for 12 free throw attempts to which 11 out of 12 were made.

Who had the lone miss? Jordan — not surprising, huh?

These teams continued to battle and the Rockets ended the third trailing by one with the score being 85-84.

The 4th quarter was one of the best efforts I’ve seen out of the Rockets this season.

Brew went out of his mind, getting red-hot with him attacking the basket, drawing fouls and just about everything he threw up was nothing but net.

He and Ariza hit threes on back-to-back possessions to put the Rockets up 90-85 with 10:15 left.

Then Brew took control!

He dunked, he drove, he hit a three along with D-Mo to put together a 9-0 run allowing the Rockets to take a 99-86 lead, their largest of the game.

Redick, Jordan and Crawford all worked together to cut their deficit to six but James Harden hit his signature step-back with 4:56 left to put the Rockets up by eight. Rockets 101, Clippers 93

There was a brief scare where the Beard tumbled to the floor in pain on defense when he rolled his ankle but he got up, dusted himself a bit and walked off his pain.

He’s one tough son-of-a-gun!

Harden and Brewer continued to draw fouls — one off Spencer Hawes and the other off Redick — to put the team up 106-93 with 4:16 left.

Jordan countered with an alley-oop assisted by Barnes and Chris Paul hit a three of his own to get back within eight with three minutes left. That was the completion of a 5-0 run. Rockets 106, Clippers 98

Then the Beard hit a three-pointer to put the Rockets back up 109-98 with the Clippers once again fighting back with 6-0 run to close their gap to four points. Rockets 109, Clippers 105

Feb 25, 2015; Houston, TX, USA; Houston Rockets guard James Harden (13) sits on the floor after a play during the fourth quarter against the Los Angeles Clippers at Toyota Center. The Rockets defeated the Clippers 110-105. Mandatory Credit: Troy Taormina-USA TODAY Sports

With 29 seconds left, the Beard had the ball in his hands at the top of the key but was continuing to get hit repeatedly by Paul frustrating to a point to where Harden had a few words for him after the foul was finally called.

Harden hit one out of two free throws to put the Rockets up for good after the Clippers attempts to get closer were fruitless. Final Score: Rockets 110, Clippers 105

Game time!

Harden led all Rockets scorers with 21 points, 10 assists while Brew had 20 points, six rebounds.

Ariza had one of his better games this season, chipping in 17 points off nearly 55 percent shooting both from the field and from the three-point line.

The Rockets connected on 17 three-pointers off 44 attempts for 38.6 percent!

As you know, when we’re shooting that well as a team from behind-the-arc, we’re going to win.

Each Houston Rocket that took court contributed something to help the team win.

Quite honestly, that’s the way it should be and made me proud to see such camaraderie out on the court.