
LOS ANGELES — Guard James Harden scored 34 points, and the Houston Rockets held on for a 100-98 victory over the Los Angeles Clippers on Sunday at Staples Center.
Point guard Chris Paul, who finished with 23 points, missed a shot at the buzzer that would have forced overtime.
The win ended a two-game skid for the Rockets (44-22). Houston forward Trevor Ariza scored 19 points, while forward Terrence Jones added 16.
Los Angeles forward Blake Griffin returned after missing 15 games after surgery on his right elbow. Griffin had 11 points, 11 rebounds and eight assists. Forward Matt Barnes scored 19 points and guard J.J. Redick had 15 for the Clippers (42-24), who fell into a sixth-place tie in the Western Conference with the Dallas Mavericks.
The Clippers came back from a 10-point fourth-quarter deficit. Paul scored seven straight points, capping it with a 3-point basket to tie the score at 96 with 3:05 left in the game. Houston got a 3-pointer by Jones, but Barnes countered with a basket to keep Los Angeles within 99-98 with 1:35 left.
Griffin stole the ball as Ariza attempted a pass to Harden, but Ariza drew a charging foul on Griffin on a drive to the bucket with 12 seconds remaining.
Harden hit one of two foul shots with 8.9 seconds left, giving the Rockets a 100-98 lead, but Paul failed to connect on a jumper in the lane just before the horn sounded.
After trailing by as much as 10 in the first half, the Rockets rallied with a strong second quarter. They used a 13-2 surge for a 45-40 advantage after Ariza scored on a drive with 3:50remaining in period. Guard Jordan Hamilton’s jumper tied the score at 48, but Houston put together a 10-2 run to end the half for a 58-50 lead at the break.
The Rockets outscored Los Angeles 36-20 in the second quarter despite making just 38.5 percent of their shots compared to 44.4 percent for the Clippers. Harden scored 18 in the quarter on 4-of-5 shooting, hitting all three of his 3-pointers. Harden finished with 24 points in the first half.
Clippers center DeAndre Jordan finished with 20 rebounds.
NOTES: F Blake Griffin’s return benefits PG Chris Paul as much as any Clipper. “Teams have been able to trap (Paul) far more than they can when Blake is on the floor because of (Griffin’s) ability to pass,” Clippers coach Doc Rivers said. “I’m sure CP is the happiest of all to have him back.” … Rivers isn’t sure if injured G Jamal Crawford would return before the playoffs. Crawford has missed six games with a right calf contusion. … Rockets C Dwight Howard sat out his 18th game with a right knee edema. “He’s doing everything he can, he’s trying to get better, but until you’re on the floor, it’s impossible to say,” Rockets coach Kevin McHale said regarding Howard’s return. … Both clubs resume play Tuesday. Houston hosts the Orlando Magic, while Los Angeles plays the Charlotte Hornets at Staples Center.