Kevin Martin strikes again as Rockets hold off spirited Clippers 97-92
Kevin Martin put in another match winning performance, as the Houston Rockets held off a vicious surge down the stretch from the spirited Los Angeles Clippers to hold on for a 97-92
win.
The phenomenal guard, who has been on fire for the last three games again set the floor ablaze, as he bludgeoned 28 points to spearhead the Rockets to their third straight road win.
The Clippers, who are considered as one of the light weights of the league, didn’t make it easy though for their much fancied opponents. Rookie Blake Griffin, who has impressed the
most this season once again proved that he is the one to look out for in the future, as he posted 24 points and 18 rebounds to notch up his 17th double-double of the season.
Luis Scola finished with 22 points for the Rockets, while Shane Battier had 13 points, 10 rebounds and seven assists for the Rockets. Battier was one of many, who was enchanted by
Griffin’s talents, as he said after the match.
"He's like (Evander) Holyfield. He's the real deal. I was impressed. If I could buy stock in Blake Griffin, I would put a fair amount of money into it. He plays fearlessly. No matter
how hard he gets hit, he keeps comes back strong. He's so athletic and explosive and he's got a real good feel for the game. That's saying a lot for someone who's essentially a rookie."
The Rockets dominated their hosts at the Staples Centre, as they came into the match firing on all cylinders and stormed into a 12-3 lead within the first four minutes of play. The
vociferous assault didn’t stop there, as a minute later they launched another 13-4 burst, romping to a 27-11 advantage with four minutes still remaining in the first quarter.
The stage was set for another thrashing for the Clippers, but Griffin and DeAndre Jordan countered the Rockets with a barrage of thunderous dunks that formed the part of a 17-5 run,
to make it a four point game going into the second quarter.
Griffin didn’t stop there as he opened the second period with a three point play to pull within one. This was the closest the Clippers got, as the Rockets sprung back with a 13-4
run capped by a Chase Budinger triple pointer.
Leading by 56-43 at the midway mark, the Rockets managed to keep a tight leash on the match as they pinned down the cold shooting Clippers offence in the third quarter. Staring
with a 12 point deficit the Clippers got into their groove quickly in the fourth quarter, as Griffin and Eric Gordon ran riot on the Houston defence to reel off a 13-3 run within a span of five minutes. However just as the Clippers came within striking distance
at 76-77, the Rockets pulled away again with a quick 11-2 spurt to send them reeling to an 88-78 deficit.
It wasn’t over yet, as the Clipper took the fight again to the Rockets. With over four minutes left to play, the Clippers
quickly reduced the 10-point deficit into four, on the back of four successive free throws by DeAndre Jordan followed by a lay-up by Gordon. Scola responded for the Rockets with a 17-foot jumper to carry a six-point lead into the final minute.
Griffin, who had sent shivers down the spine of the Houston defence all night, made another lethal move as he ripped in a triple pointer with 58 seconds to go. One rookie inspired
the other, as Al-Farouq Aminu brought the home team within touching distance at 93-92, as he slipped in three pin-point free throws after getting fouled by Scola.
Martin responded for the Rocket with two free throws, and the Clippers couldn’t get any closer as Griffin missed a crucial long range shot. Kevin Martin then sealed it at 97-92 with
two more charity throws, as the Rockets matched their longest winning streak in two seasons.
Griffin said after the game, "We needed points, so we were trying to take three's to get back into the game if we didn't have a two. But I missed too many easy ones tonight and that
hurt us. I thought we had energy all the way through, and we kept fighting and fighting. But they hit shots. Kevin Martin played extremely well, especially down the stretch."
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