Rockets 107, Clippers 97
HOUSTON -- James Harden and Dwight Howard produced double-doubles and the Houston Rockets recorded their fourth consecutive win over the Los Angeles Clippers, 107-97, Saturday night at Toyota Center.
Harden recorded 18 points and 11 assists while Howard paired 22 points with a game-high 14 rebounds to carry the Rockets (14-14).
Houston trailed only once and took the lead for good when Howard converted a hook shot for a 10-9 lead with 8:12 left in the first quarter.
Forward Blake Griffin posted 22 points, eight rebounds and six assists to lead the Clippers (16-12). Guard J.J. Redick added 19 points while center DeAndre Jordan tallied 16 points, 11 rebounds and four blocks but missed 8 of 12 free throws.
Clippers guard Chris Paul finished with 12 points, 10 assists and seven steals.
A blistering start for the Rockets came to a grinding halt when Clippers coach Doc Rivers instructed his team to start intentionally fouling Howard with 6:57 remaining in the second period.
Before that gambit, the Rockets had exploded to a 26-point lead. Harden led the charge out of the gate, recording five assists and converting all seven of his free-throw attempts in a 38-point first period, one that unfolded despite Houston making just one 3-pointer.
But, with Houston leading 44-23, the Clippers began fouling Howard and Rockets forward Clint Capela, who combined to make 7 of 16 free throws while the Clippers whittled the deficit to 14 points. Los Angeles closed to within 64-58 on Redick's 3-pointer with 6:04 remaining in the third quarter before the Rockets reclaimed some semblance of order.
Rockets forward Trevor Ariza (17 points) and guard Jason Terry combined for three 3-pointers over a three-minute stretch that enabled Houston to push its lead back to 15.
All the while, the Rockets slowed the Clippers by fouling Jordan intentionally, disrupting their rhythm as Los Angeles had done earlier.
NOTES: Clippers coach Doc Rivers utilized the same starting lineup against the Rockets that he used Friday night in San Antonio: Fs Luc Mbah a Moute and Blake Griffin, Gs J.J. Redick and Chris Paul and C DeAndre Jordan. That was the 10th time this season that Rivers had started that lineup, the most among the 10 lineups the Clippers have used. ... With the Clippers returning to Los Angeles to play just one game during this stretch of seven road games in 13 days, Rivers likened the run to an eight-game road trip. ... Rockets G Ty Lawson began serving his two-game suspension for his arrest last season for driving under the influence. In his absence, Rockets G Marcus Thornton could reclaim rotation minutes. Thornton did not play against the Lakers after logging just six minutes at Sacramento two nights earlier.