2. Rockets at Clippers, Dec. 19
The Rockets went on 40-12 and 17-2 runs in the second half of Thursday’s wild game at Staples Center in Los Angeles, overcoming a 16-point deficit in the third quarter to defeat the host Clippers, 122-117.
Russell Westbrook led Houston with 40 points and 10 rebounds, becoming the first Rockets player not named James Harden to score 40 or more points in a game since Kevin Martin on Jan. 5, 2011.
Meanwhile, Harden had 28 points and 10 assists, with one of those dimes making him the franchise’s all-time assists leader.
Frontcourt starters P.J. Tucker and Clint Capela offered key defensive contributions, especially late. Tucker had 10 points, 12 rebounds, and largely bottled up Kawhi Leonard in the fourth, while Capela posted 16 points (8-of-9 shooting), eight rebounds, four steals and a game-high plus/minus figure of +27 in his 39 minutes.