Jordan, Redick Lead Clippers To 122-106 Win Over Houston
LOS ANGELES (AP) — DeAndre Jordan had 23 points and 14 rebounds, and the Los Angeles Clippers opened up a large halftime lead and never relented en route to a 122-106 victory over the Houston Rockets on Wednesday night.
Jordan finished 8 of 8 from the floor, with six dunks. JJ Redick added 25 points, including 14 in the first quarter, going 5 of 9 from the 3-point line.
Chris Paul had 15 points and 15 assists for the Clippers (43-24), who shot 56 percent. Jamal Crawford had 14 points and seven assists; and Luc Mbah a Moute, Austin Rivers and Wesley Johnson each had 12 points as the Clippers snapped a two-game skid.
James Harden led Houston (34-34) with 33 points. Michael Beasley had 16 points and eight rebounds off the bench for the Rockets, who shot 49 percent.
Trevor Ariza also had 16 points for Houston, which was 9 of 25 on 3-pointers and shot 71 percent from the free throw line.
Trailing 101-77 with 11 minutes left in the game, Houston outscored the Clippers 23-10 to cut the lead to 11 on Montrezl Harrell's dunk with 4:34 left. However, Redick answered with a 3-pointer with 3:40 remaining to push the lead back to 14 and Houston got no closer than 12 the rest of the way.
The Clippers started the second quarter with a 21-7 spurt to open a 56-33 lead with 6:45 left in the half on Rivers' 3-pointer. Crawford and Johnson each had six points in the run.
Los Angeles pushed the lead to as many as 24 and led 72-50 at the half. The 72 points were the most the Clippers have scored in a half this season.
TIP-INS
Clippers: Paul Pierce scored seven points in 18 minutes. Pierce had missed the previous three games with a sore right big toe. . Los Angeles signed center Jeff Ayres for the rest of season, the team announced Wednesday. . The Clippers' last loss in the second night of a back-to-back was Dec. 19 at Houston.
Rockets: Jason Terry had 11 points. . Dwight Howard had six points and seven rebounds. . Houston gave away James Harden "Weird Beards" to the first 15,000 fans. The fake beard was colored pink and was given away with gummy candy shaped beards. .
HACK-A-JORDAN
Houston started fouling Jordan with two minutes to go in the first half and he went 3 of 6 from the line. Houston fouled Jordan again with 7:46 left in the third quarter, and Jordan made both.
UP NEXT
Clippers: Travel to Memphis on Saturday.
Rockets: Host Minnesota on Friday.
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