Hack-a-DeAndre Jordan or not, the Los Angeles Clippers have taken a stranglehold on their Western Conference Semifinals series with the Houston Rockets after finishing off a 128-95 rout in Sunday's Game 4 to take a 3-1 series lead.
While the first half at the Staples Center in L.A. was a competitive back-and-forth tilt, it was slowed to a crawl by repeated Rockets fouls on Clippers center DeAndre Jordan. Jordan took an NBA playoff record 28 free throws in the first, and while he wasn't exactly efficient altogether, the Clippers picked up enough points from an eye-popping 44 combined freebies to stake themselves to a 60-54 lead at the break.
From there, it was all Clippers. Houston's shooters when stone cold from the field in the third, missing a wide array of shots both open and contested. Los Angeles used that opening to essentially finish off the Rockets, doubling up on Houston 32-16 in the frame and turning this one into a laugher going away.
The Rockets now need to pick themselves up and figure out a way to take three straight from one of the hottest teams in these playoffs in order to secure a berth in the Western Conference Finals.
Key Number: +22
We hate to harp on the free throws, but it was the story of this game. Houston's used to dominating the stripe, but that was far from the case on Sunday. The Clippers made a staggering 37 free throws to the Rockets' 15, using that +22 margin and a great shooting night from the field to annihilate Houston.
Los Angeles MVPs:
Share this award between DeAndre Jordan for being an absolute trooper and still dominating on both ends (26 points, 17 rebounds), and JJ Redick for shooting the lights out in the team's pivotal third-quarter beatdown to the tune of 15 points.
Houston MVPs:
James Harden was a step or two above solid, but we'll split this one between Trevor Ariza and Jason Terry for giving the Rockets a combined 34 points to work with in supporting roles.
What's Next?
Houston fights for their playoff lives when they host Los Angeles for Tuesday' Game 5. Tipoff is slated for just after 8:30pm local time.
Back to the Los Angeles Clippers Newsfeed