With Chris Paul back in the lineup after missing two games with a hamstring injury, the Los Angeles Clippers crushed the Houston Rockets, 124-99, to take a 2-1 series lead. Blake Griffin had 22 points and 14 rebounds while J.J. Redick and Austin Rivers added 31 and 25 points, respectively.
Rockets vs. Clippers 2015 results: 3 things we learned in Clips’ dominating win
Austin Rivers went off and Los Angeles caught fire in the third quarter to pull away for a 25-point win.
Stephen Dunn/Getty Images
The Clippers jumped out to a 33-24 lead in the first quarter and were up 64-52 with 47 seconds left in the half, but a 5-0 run by the Rockets made it a seven-point game at the break.
Paul, coming back from a hamstring injury that kept him out of the first two games of the series, played 16 minutes in the first half and had six points and six assists. Redick was on fire in the first half, hitting 5-of-7 from the field and 3-of-3 from deep for 16 points. The Rockets used a balanced attack to stay in the game with four players scoring in double figures.
The Rockets tried to keep it close in the third quarter, pulling to within five, but that would be the last time they threatened the Clippers. Los Angeles went on an 18-0 run to take a 99-76 lead heading into the fourth.
That run bled into the fourth, ending at 23-0. Rivers was the instigator, scoring 16 points in the run.
And he stole Harden’s signature taunt:
The Clippers didn’t look back in the fourth quarter, going on to win 124-99.
James Harden struggled to take over despite scoring 25 points and dishing out 11 assists.
Game 4 is on Sunday in Los Angeles.
3 things we learned
1. Chris Paul was back, but J.J. Redick and Austin Rivers stole the show
Rivers scored 16 points in the Clippers’ 23-0 run that put the game away. He ended the night with 25 points in just 23 minutes. Rivers wasn’t the only bit player to have a huge impact in the Clippers’ win. J.J. Redick was also on fire. He hit 11-of-14 from the floor on his way to a career playoff-high 31 points. The Clippers are much more than Paul and Griffin. When role players play as well as they did in Game 3, the Clippers are incredibly difficult to beat.
2. James Harden can’t find a rhythm
Harden had just 10 points in the first half. He heated up in the second half some, but the game was already over by then. Harden ended the night with 25 points, hitting a few tough looks from deep. He has struggled to get going against a swarming Clippers' defense. Facing Matt Barnes and Redick on the perimeter, Harden hasn't seen many open looks. And when he gets into the lane, he's faced with DeAndre Jordan and Griffin.
3. The Clippers are in control
The Rockets could not afford to give away Game 1 with Paul on the sidelines. But here they are, trailing the Clippers 2-1 with Game 4 in L.A. on Sunday and Paul on the court for good. They’re facing a must-win situation. The Clippers, meanwhile, look like too much for the Rockets, especially with Paul back on the court. The Rockets seemingly gave up when the Clippers went on their 23-0 run, but the Clippers had outplayed them before that point, too.
Paul only had to play 23 minutes. He had 12 points and seven assists in that short period of time. The way this series is going, the Clippers are going to be awaiting the winner of the Golden State Warriors and the Memphis Grizzlies.
See More:
