Harden posted 26 points, 11 rebounds and 10 assists, while Howard added 20 points and 15 rebounds as the Rockets forced a return trip to Los Angeles for Game 6 on Thursday night at Staples Center by thriving in the paint and playing with defensive vigor.
Los Angeles still leads the best-of-seven series three games to two. If the Rockets can even the series Thursday, Game 7 would be Sunday back in Houston.
The Rockets matched their Game 3 total for points in the paint (36) by halftime and finished with 64. Houston took full advantage of the foul difficulties plaguing Clippers center DeAndre Jordan, who had three by the break while logging just nine first-half minutes.
Jordan finished with 13 points and 11 rebounds but was largely neutralized as a rim protector. Forward Blake Griffin paced the Clippers with 30 points and 16 rebounds, while guard Chris Paul added 22 points and 10 assists. The guard trio of J.J. Redick, Jamal Crawford and Austin Rivers, instrumental in two blowout wins in Los Angeles, shot a combined 8-for-33.
Rockets coach Kevin McHale tweaked his lineup, starting forward Josh Smith in place of Terrence Jones. Smith finished with nine points, seven rebounds and four assists, while Jones added 12 points and five boards.
Houston forward Trevor Ariza paired 22 points with eight assists.
The Rockets closed the first half with an 18-5 surge, limiting the Clippers to just one basket over the final three-plus minutes of the second quarter. Guard Jason Terry drilled a pair of 3-pointers during that run, and Harden scored six points, hitting a shot with 0.3 seconds left in the half for a 63-48 advantage.
The Rockets led by as many as 22 points in the third quarter before Griffin paced a Clippers rally with nine points during a surge that cut the deficit to 83-70. The Houston bench prevented any further slippage in the fourth quarter, and Los Angeles failed the mount a serious late run.
NOTES: Clippers coach Doc Rivers was surprised by the news that the New Orleans Pelicans fired coach Monty Williams after Williams guided them through a series of debilitating injuries and into the postseason for the second time in his five seasons. “That was a shocker to me,” said Rivers of the dismissal of Williams, who played for Rivers in Orlando (1999-2002). “I was surprised (because of) all the injuries they had.” … Clippers F Glen Davis continues to be slowed by the left ankle sprain he sustained in the opening playoff round against the San Antonio Spurs. Davis played just six minutes Tuesday after appearing for 15 minutes total during Games 3 and 4.
source: interaksyon.com
