OTHER DROP DOWN

Rockets stun Clippers 119-107 to force deciding Game 7

May 14, 2015, 11:48 PM

Los Angeles Clippers center DeAndre Jordan, right, fouls Houston Rockets forward Josh Smith during ...

Los Angeles Clippers center DeAndre Jordan, right, fouls Houston Rockets forward Josh Smith during the first half of Game 6 in a second-round NBA basketball playoff series in Los Angeles, Thursday, May 14, 2015. (AP Photo/Jae C. Hong)

(AP Photo/Jae C. Hong)

LOS ANGELES (AP) — With a 19-point lead in the second half, the Los Angeles Clippers were cruising toward clinching the franchise’s first Western Conference finals berth.

Not so fast.

The Houston Rockets would not be denied.

Corey Brewer scored 15 of his 19 points in the fourth quarter and Houston stunned Los Angeles 119-107 on Thursday night to force a Game 7.

“We kept saying, ‘We’re not going to quit,'” said Dwight Howard, who had 20 points and 21 rebounds. “We kept believing. We never gave up on each other.”

James Harden scored 23 points — making all 11 of his free throws — while spending most of the fourth quarter on the bench for the Rockets, who have won two straight after trailing the series 3-1. Josh Smith scored 14 of his 19 points in the fourth.

Trailing 87-68, Houston outscored the Clippers 51-20 over the end of the third and in the fourth to shock the sellout crowd of 19,417 into near silence.

“We took our foot off the gas, stopped defending, a lot of things,” said Blake Griffin, who finished with 28 points and missed all five of his shots in the fourth quarter when the Clippers were 4 of 22 from the field.

Game 7 is Sunday in Houston.

“It’s about who wants it more,” Griffin said.

The Clippers led by 19 points in the third quarter, seemingly assured of finishing off the Rockets in six games after beating the defending NBA champion San Antonio Spurs in seven games in the first round.

Then Rockets started their big run with nine straight points to cut it to 13 heading into the fourth.

“We were trying to run the clock out and we stopped playing,” Clippers coach Doc Rivers said. “We gave this one away.”

Houston hit seven 3-pointers in the fourth and stymied the Clippers offensively.

“That group just went out there and they just scrambled, they fought and they played their tails off on defense,” Rockets coach Kevin McHale said. “They had a great sense about them that they were going to accomplish something.”

The Rockets went on a 23-2 run to take a 111-102 lead with 1:44 left. Dazed fans began clearing out.

Chris Paul had 31 points and 11 assists for the Clippers and J.J. Redick added 15 points.

Once again in the series, the third quarter belonged to the Clippers, who outscored the Rockets 28-17 while building that 19-point lead.

The Rockets’ frustration boiled over in the third, when Howard was called for a flagrant-1 foul after knocking Griffin to the court on a drive. Harden later got hit with a technical for shoving Griffin.

Griffin ignited the crowd with a fastbreak layup in which he first completed a 360-degree pirouette, extending the lead to 86-68. The franchise’s long-suffering fans stood clapping and cheering as the Clippers got defensive stops that turned into baskets on their own end.

Smith hit consecutive 3-pointers, drawing the Rockets to 102-97. With the suddenly nervous crowd chanting, “Let’s go, Clippers!” Houston didn’t let up.

“We were just riding our momentum,” Smith said.

Neither team led by more than nine points in the first half. The Clippers dominated the first quarter, when Howard picked up two early fouls. Harden revived the Rockets by scoring 17 points in the second, including 11 straight against the Clippers’ reserves. Once the starters returned, Griffin and Redick combined to score nine straight and put the Clippers ahead 64-62 at halftime.

TIP-INS

Rockets: They dominated the boards 60-41. … Harden started the game 0 of 5 from the field.

Clippers: DeAndre Jordan made his first four free throws before missing two. … Former Clippers Corey Maggette (2000-08) and Eric Gordon (2008-11) were on hand, along with Floyd Mayweather Jr., Billy Crystal and “owner emeritus” Shelly Sterling.

REST TIME

After playing every other day, the teams have two days’ rest before Game 7.

“I’m almost 30, so I need two days to get my body right,” Howard said. “It’s going to be a dogfight.”

Copyright © The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.

Other Drop Down

FILE – In this July 25, 2015 file photo, Republican presidential candidate Donald Trump speak...

Arizona Sports

Trump hosts Women’s British Open as Park resumes slam quest

Inbee Park resuming her quest for the career Grand Slam. Teenage prodigy Lydia Ko seeking that elusive first major. Michelle Wie going for victory with an injured left foot.

9 years ago

Republican Assembly Speaker Robin Vos, right, motions to Democratic Reps., from left: Peter Barca; ...

Arizona Sports

Wisconsin Assembly approves Milwaukee Bucks arena deal

The Wisconsin state Assembly voted Tuesday to spend $250 million in public funds on a new arena for the Milwaukee Bucks, a deal that both Republicans and Democrats lauded as good for the state and city.

9 years ago

FILE-In this Nov. 13, 2014 file photo former PGA golfer Charlie Sifford sits in the dining room in ...

Arizona Sports

Family of late black golf great accused of $1 million theft

The son and ex-daughter-in-law of late black golf pioneer Charlie Sifford were indicted Tuesday on charges they stole more than $1 million from him.

9 years ago

Tiger Woods watches his tee shot on the 18th hole during a practice round for the Quicken Loans Nat...

Arizona Sports

Michelle Wie limps into her next major

that matched her best result of the year -- she developed a bone spur in her left foot that she attributed to the hilly terrain of Lancaster Country Club.

9 years ago

Lexi Thompson holds the trophy after winning the Meijer LPGA Classic golf tournament Sunday, July 2...

Arizona Sports

Golf’s youth movement means 30 is the new 20

a major -- from an otherwise remarkable record. Ko had never missed the cut in her career until that week at the KPMG Women's PGA Championship. A month later, she was never in contention at the U.S. Women's Open.

9 years ago

Tiger Woods smiles as he answers a question during a news conference prior to the start of the Quic...

Arizona Sports

Tiger Woods running out of chances to salvage season

Tiger Woods knows he's played poorly over the past two years. Now, he's facing the prospect of an early end to his season.

9 years ago

Rockets stun Clippers 119-107 to force deciding Game 7