For the first time all postseason, Spencer Hawes mattered.
Off a whim, Clippers head coach Doc Rivers briefly leaned on the shoulders of the Hawes as Blake Griffin was forced to sit with foul trouble early in Game 3 of Clippers-Rockets. Unexpected as Hawes has been glued to the bench the entire postseason (nine minutes played prior to Game 3 and six DNP’s), in 11 minutes of playing time the floor-spreading big man showed some life, notching 2 points, 2 assists, 3 rebounds, and 2 blocks, and a plus-minus of +20.