HOUSTON — With Dwight Howard carrying them early and James Harden emerging in the fourth quarter, the Houston Rockets rallied past the Los Angeles Clippers for a 115-109 win Wednesday night at Toyota Center to square the Western Conference semifinal series at one game apiece.
Harden scored 32 points and dished out seven assists, while Howard posted 24 points, 16 rebounds and four blocks, playing doggedly on both ends despite picking up his fourth foul early in the third quarter.
The Rockets made just five of 26 3-point attempts, yet their back-to-back threes from forward Trevor Ariza and guard Harden early in the fourth quarter proved critical, taking Houston from a one-point deficit to a 93-88 lead.
Clippers forward Blake Griffin scored 34 points and grabbed 15 rebounds, but he shot just 2-for-9 from the field in the second half. Center DeAndre Jordan added 16 points and 12 rebounds, while guard Jamal Crawford chipped in 19 points, five rebounds and five assists off the bench.
By simply making a sincere effort on defense, the Rockets worked their way back into contention in the third quarter. Griffin made just one of four shots in the period, the Clippers hit only seven of 24 en route to 20 points.
Howard, Houston’s center, earned the defensive assignment on Griffin, but Houston also scrambled better on the defensive end. That set the stage for several hands to contribute with Harden sidelined due to four fouls, and when Harden returned, the Rockets closed with the final five points of the third quarter — all on free throws — to trail 85-83 heading to the fourth.
On the heels of a 71-point second half that propelled them to a 1-0 series lead, the Clippers continued their offensive assault against the Rockets in Game 2. Griffin was electric, switching roles from facilitator to unstoppable scorer en route to 26 first-half points on just 14 shots.
Griffin made his intentions clear from the opening tip, scoring the opening six points for the Clippers before adding another six-point burst that pulled the Clippers to within 24-20 late in the first period.
However, Houston discovered the energy it lacked in Game 1 at the end of the first, extending to a 35-24 lead entering the second with an 8-2 run. The Clippers’ much-maligned bench had a response when the second quarter commenced, seizing control with a 14-4 surge that included only four points from a starter — two Jordan dunks. When Griffin added a 21-foot jumper and an alley-oop in transition, the Clippers led 42-39.
Griffin effectively took over down the stretch of the first half, scoring in every possible manner against every defender Houston rotated his direction. From hook shots to driving layups to pick-and-roll jumpers, Griffin proved unstoppable, and by halftime, the Clippers completed a 48-minute stretch where they scored 136 points against the Rockets.
NOTES: Clippers G Chris Paul missed his second consecutive game with a strained left hamstring, and the team remains hesitant to predict precisely when he will return. “He’s not moving well,” coach Doc Rivers said. “Again, we have a couple more days, so we’ll see.” Rivers said his decision to rest Paul had nothing to do with the Clippers’ Game 1 win on Monday night. … Rockets C Dwight Howard played 39 minutes in Game 1, his highest total since returning from right-knee surgery on March 25. … After shooting 4-for-6 on 3-pointers in Game 1, Clippers G Austin Rivers entered Game 2 leading the team in postseason 3-point shooting (46.2 percent).