History-chasing shooting trio leads Clippers over Rockets
The Los Angeles Clippers awoke from a slumber Wednesday, snapping a two-game losing skid by grounding the Houston Rockets 122-106.
The Clippers, currently fourth in the Western Conference, had been pummeled in their previous pair of outings - against the San Antonio Spurs and Cleveland Cavaliers - by an average of 23 points. On Wednesday, they scored a season-high 72 points in one half, quieting the Houston crowd early.
J.J. Redick continued his career season by leading the way with 25 points, including 5-of-9 shooting from 3-point territory. DeAndre Jordan added 23 points and 16 rebounds on a perfect 8-of-8 from the floor.
Joining with teammate Jamal Crawford - who scored 14 points off the bench and was 4-for-4 from the charity stripe - the triumvirate is headed for NBA history if they hang on to their league leads in respective statistical categories.
| Stat - Player | Percentage (NBA rank) |
|---|---|
| FG% - DeAndre Jordan | 70.5% (1st) |
| 3P% - J.J. Redick | 48.2% (1st) |
| FT% - Jamal Crawford | 91.5% (1st) |
Should they finish the season first across the board, the Clippers would become the first team ever to boast league leaders in all three categories, according to the Elias Sports Bureau.
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With Blake Griffin out since Christmas and reportedly not expected back until April, the trio, in addition to Chris Paul, has carried the team. Paul scored 15 points and dished out 16 dimes Wednesday, while veteran Paul Pierce also returned from a three-game absence. The Clippers have three games left on their road trip, capped by a visit to the Golden State Warriors next Wednesday.
Despite defense being in absentia, James Harden had a Texas-size night for Houston with 33 points and eight assists, but was mostly let down by his teammates. The second-most efficient Rocket on the night was Michael Beasley, who scored 16 points on 7-of-12 shooting.