Balanced Rockets beat Clippers in Game 7

Posted: May 17, 2015 -- 10:50 pm.

HOUSTON, TX (Toyota Center) -- Sunday afternoon, the Houston Rockets became the ninth NBA team to overcome a 3-1 series deficit and win a best-of-7 series with a thorough 113-100 victory over the Los Angeles Clippers. With the win, the Rockets advance to the Western Conference Finals to face top-seed Golden State. The series begins Tuesday, May 19. Tip is scheduled for 8 p.m. on ESPN.

"I believed it when I walked into this building," Terrence Jones said. "Just to go out there and prove to the world and prove to ourselves that we've got that toughness and fight to win three straight and move on to the next round is just amazing."

The Rockets never trailed in the ball game and led by as much as 20 points.

"They just did a hell of a job," said Kevin McHale. "That was just a really good game for us on both sides of the ball."

"They outplayed us," said Clippers head coach Doc Rivers.

The first quarter was a turnover-fest by both teams. The teams combined for 15 turnovers (7 by the Clippers, 8 by the Rockets) in the opening 12 minutes. When the Rockets weren't fumbling the ball away, they made 10 of 17 field goals. James Harden was in attack-mode the entire first quarter. Harden scored 12 points in the first period on 4 for 6 field goals (2 for 3 on threes).

The Rockets led 28-21 after the first quarter and stretched the lead to 15 (48-33) in the second quarter before the Clippers scored seven straight points during a 13-4 run to slice the Rockets' lead to six points (52-46) with 1:41 remaining until halftime.

The Rockets helped keep the Clippers scoreless the final 1:41 and scored the final 4 points of the first half to lead 56-46 at halftime.

In the first 3:38 of the third quarter, Clippers' point guard, Chris Paul, scored five points during an 11-4 run to trim the Rockets' lead to just three points (60-57) and force head coach Kevin McHale to call a timeout.

After the timeout, Harden split the Clippers' defense and slammed home two points; then, on the Rockets' next possession, Harden dished to Josh Smith who splashed a three for a quick 5-0 burst in 39 seconds.

Over the next five minutes of the ball game, Pablo Prigioni announced his presence with authority: first, Prigioni stole a Clippers' inbounds pass and nailed a 27-foot, 3 point shot; then, Prigioni hustled for an offensive rebound and dished to Trevor Ariza for a 3 point basket; lastly, Prigioni stole another pass by the Clippers which resulted in Prigs' splitting 2 free throws for an 82-66 Rockets' lead with 56 seconds remaining in the third period.

After a missed jump shot by Paul, Harden split two free throws. Then, with the seconds winding down in the third quarter, Harden nailed a step back jump shot which sent the crowd into a frenzy; and, more importantly, gave the Rockets an 85-66 lead at the end of the quarter.

Harden began the fourth quarter with a three-point play for a 20 point Rockets' lead (88-68). The Rockets kept the Clippers at arms' length for eight minutes of the fourth quarter as the Clippers didn't get closer than 15 points until four minutes remained in the ball game.

The Rockets went into a cautious mindset (playing to not lose rather than playing to win) and got sloppy in the final four minutes; and, the Clippers took advantage of the poor minutes and pulled within eight points (104-96) with 1:26 left in the ball game.

But, Terrence Jones penetrated the Clippers' defense before dishing to Trevor Ariza who splashed in a huge three point basket - while in front of the Clippers' bench - to give the Rockets breathing room and a 107-96 lead with 55.8 seconds remaining in the game.

"I was open," said Trevor Ariza matter-of-fact. "So, I've got to knock it down. Winning was the only thing on my mind. I knew the game was not over and we had to continue to play."

James Harden scored a game-high 31 points (7 for 20 field goals, 15 for 18 free throws). Trevor Ariza scored 22 points (6 for 12 from three points range) and grabbed seven rebounds. Dwight Howard added 16 points and 15 rebounds. Josh Smith scored 15 points.

"We did a really good job each and every quarter of refocusing and making sure we go out there and execute," James Harden said.

The Rockets' bench outscored the Clippers 25 to 21.

"That's something that is one of our strengths," Ariza added. "Josh (Smith) was huge for us. Corey (Brewer) is huge for us. Pablo (Prigioni), everybody. Everybody contributed today. It took a total team effort to beat them."

For the first time in the seven-game series, the winning team lost the rebounding battle: the Clippers out-rebounded the Rockets 48-40.

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