• Tweet
• Pin It

(Bill Baptist/NBAE via Getty Images)

Things were always going to get harder for the LA Clippers before they got easier, but damn. Friday night in Houston marked a 5th-straight loss for the Clippers, and it was so bad that they never even got a 2nd-half lead to blow. Instead, the Clippers allowed the Rockets to score a season-high 140 points, while both Rivers (starting PG Austin and head coach Doc) were ejected in the 1st half.

Top Performer: Sure, Rockets PG James Harden had a 30-point triple-double with 5 steals, but backup C Montrezl Harrell had a career night, dropping 29 points on the Clippers in just over 30 minutes off the bench. 13 of Harrell’s career-high came in a 4th quarter where he made all 5 of his baskets and had a major part in ending any comeback hopes for LA.

X-Factor: The two teams made the same number of FGs overall, while Houston made just 1 more three than the Clippers. But the Clippers were outscored from the FT line for the 7th time in 8 games as Houston made 36-of-43 FTs (83.7 percent) to LA’s 13-of-16 (81.7 percent). That’s the largest FT deficit of the season for the Clippers.

Major Moment: More than anything, this game will be remembered for the Rivers and Rivers ejections – one tech tosses in the 2nd quarter:

Don't think @AustinRivers25 realized it was an official @LAClippers pic.twitter.com/yrAk4FwxP3

— Jeanne Zelasko (@JeanneZelasko) December 31, 2016

Pool reporter transcript from tonight's Clippers-Rockets game: pic.twitter.com/DqBcnUMXFO

— NBA Official (@NBAOfficial) December 31, 2016

Doc got tossed just trying to get info on MO's and one! He didn't get an audience … no foul language … he was just tossed @LAClippers

— Jeanne Zelasko (@JeanneZelasko) December 31, 2016

Key Lineup: The Clippers failed to close out another 1st quarter, going from a 17-15 lead to being down 37-23 at the end of the 1st quarter. But the Clippers cut what was a 25-point deficit after Doc was ejected in the 2nd quarter to only a 6-point deficit with 10:49 left to play. But then Houston went on a 16-0 run, with the last 11 of those points coming from a lineup consisting of two starters (SG Patrick Beverley, SF Trevor Ariza) and three reserves (former Clipper Eric Gordon, Harrell, and wing Corey Brewer). Those dudes took a two-possession game and blew it right back open in just over 3 minutes.

Later in the same quarter, the Clippers had a lineup of starting forwards Luc Mbah a Moute and Wesley Johnson and reserves Jamal Crawford, Brandon Bass, and Alan Anderson. That group was outscored 10-2 to push Houston’s lead to 26 points with just under 2 minutes left. Garbage time commenced from there.

The Definition: Yeah, it’s bad. Real bad! The Clippers haven’t given up 140 points in a game since a home-and-home with the Phoenix Suns in February 2009. The only Clipper still on the team from those games was a rookie DeAndre Jordan, while Gordon was on those Clipper teams as well, coached by Mike Dunleavy. That team finished with 63 losses. The last time the Clippers lost 5 straight games was February 2011, Vinny Del Negro’s first season. That was the February before the Chris Paul trade – and that team lost 50 games. Doc Rivers last lost 5 games in a row in March 2013, with the Celtics. That team lost 40 games. This year’s Clippers team looks hardpressed to avoid 30 losses after winning 60 percent of their games each season since 2011-2012. But Doc is trying to be optimistic with one more game left in 2016:

“We battled back and that’s all nice but as I said and I tell our team we’re going through a tough time and at the end of the day there’s good in this,” Doc Rivers said. “I love this team. Right now with all our health issues we are just trying to get through it. I do like some of the things – Raymond (Felton) was terrific and the other night Austin (Rivers) was. We are seeing things from our bench that will help us later. Right now unfortunately, our bench have to be our starters and it’s tough for them to help us now.”

• Tweet
• Pin It