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 (box score).
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.
Westbrook keyed the massive 40-12 run for the Rockets late in the third and early in the fourth quarters, in which Houston (19-9) turned a 77-61 deficit into a 101-89 lead with just over nine minutes left. Part of that run came with Harden on the bench and Westbrook leading the second unit.
𝗕𝗥𝗢𝗗𝗜𝗘 𝗗𝗥𝗢𝗣𝗣𝗘𝗗 𝟰𝟬! #OneMission pic.twitter.com/vjkUezdxqu
— Houston Rockets (@HoustonRockets) December 20, 2019
Good morning! The Rockets were down 17…up 12…down 6 & then closed the game on a 17-6 run to beat the Clippers 122-117. It was just the 2nd home loss for LAC. Russ had his best game…Harden turned back into himself in the 2nd half and Tucker was a ROCK defensively. Yeah yeah!
— Craig Ackerman (@ca_rockets) December 20, 2019
Then, after the Clippers (21-9) responded with a 22-4 burst to go up 111-105, Harden took over down the stretch with 10 points in the final five minutes during a 17-2 Rockets run to secure the game.
RT for The BEARD! pic.twitter.com/BKtsZ052bA
— Houston Rockets (@HoustonRockets) December 20, 2019
Frontcourt starters P.J. Tucker and Clint Capela offered key defensive contributions, especially late. Tucker had 10 points, 12 rebounds and helped limit 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.
D'Antoni: "Our defense was the difference… PJ (Tucker) was a big part of that with his defense on (Kawhi) Leonard."
— ClutchFans (@clutchfans) December 20, 2019
The Houston Rockets had a 115 ORTG tonight, and a 109 DRTG.
They're now responsible for 2 of the top 3 best offensive performances against the Clippers (SO Wizards)
They had an incredible 87.3 DRTG in the 2nd half
— Play Gary Clark (NBA (@Itamar1710) December 20, 2019
Paul George led Los Angeles with 34 points, but Harden took on the assignment of the Clippers’ leading scorer in the final five minutes and held him in check as the Rockets took command with that 17-2 burst.
The Rockets, who have now won eight of their last 11 games overall, return to action Saturday night at Phoenix (11-16) for the second game of a four-game West Coast road trip.
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