Rivers leads second-half run to rout the Rockets


May 8, 2015; Los Angeles, CA, USA; Los Angeles Clippers guard Austin Rivers (25) moves the ball against Houston Rockets guard James Harden (13) during the second half in game three of the second round of the NBA Playoffs. at Staples Center. Gary A. Vasquez-USA TODAY Sports

LOS ANGELES — Backup point guard Austin Rivers scored 25 points and sparked a pivotal second-half run that helped the Los Angeles Clippers coast to a 124-99 rout of the Houston Rockets in Game 3 of their Western Conference playoff semifinal on Friday night at the Staples Center.

Guard J.J. Redick led all scorers with 31 points on 11-of-14 shooting from the field as the Clippers took a 2-1 lead in the best-of-seven series.

Clippers point guard Chris Paul returned after missing the opening two games of the series with a strained left hamstring. He finished with 12 points and seven assists with only one turnover in 23 minutes.

Forward Blake Griffin had 22 points and 14 rebounds but committed seven of the Clippers’ 18 turnovers (Houston had 15).

All five Rockets starters scored in double figures, with All-Star guard and MVP runner-up James Harden leading the way with 25 points and 11 assists. Center Dwight Howard had 14 points and 14 rebounds.

Rivers ignited a late third-quarter surge that blew the game open. He scored 15 points on drives and jumpers in the final 4:08 of the quarter, converting 6 of 8 shots from the floor and boosting the Clippers to a 99-76 cushion heading into the fourth.

Rivers finished 10 of 13 from the floor and 3 of 6 from 3-point range.

The Clippers led by 12 points in the first half en route to a 64-57 lead at the break. Redick scored 16 points on 5-of-7 shooting from the field and hit all three of his 3-point attempts before intermission.

Los Angeles outshot Houston 54.3 percent to 41.2 percent from the field in the first half. Overall, the Clippers finished at 55.4 percent to 39.8 percent for the Rockets. The Clippers also made 14-of-29 3-pointers to 11-of-33 for the Rockets.

Houston guard Jason Terry was ejected with eight minutes left in the game after a brief altercation with Griffin.

Game 4 is Sunday at the Staples Center.

NOTES: Clipper coach Doc Rivers chastised F Matt Barnes earlier Friday for his vile comments to the mother of Rockets G James Harden during Game 2. The NBA fined Barnes $50,000 for his actions. “I was not pleased and I made that clear,” Rivers said. “I made it clear to Matt and the entire team, and I am going to leave it at that.” … Houston coach Kevin McHale dismissed protocol, deciding to hold his pregame meeting with reporters in the hallway outside the designed media room before Rivers’ session ended. That forced more than half of the media to miss McHale’s session. … The series will return to Houston for Game 5 on Tuesday.