By KRISTIE RIEKEN AP Sports Writer
HOUSTON — The shots weren’t falling for the Clippers’ top scorers on Wednesday night.
Jalen Green had 21 points and Amen Thompson and Tari Eason added 18 each to lead the Houston Rockets to a 111-103 victory over the Clippers on Wednesday night in the opener of a two-game set.
The Rockets trailed by 11 early but had taken a five-point lead by halftime. They used a 19-2 run at the end of the third quarter and the beginning of the fourth to turn a two-point lead into a 98-79 advantage with about 10 minutes left.
The Clippers used a 9-2 run to cut the lead to four with about 90 seconds remaining, but Alperen Sengun had a dunk followed by a monster blocked shot on the other end to secure Houston’s third straight victory.
James Harden had 19 points and seven assists for the Clippers, who shot 39.6% from the field (38 for 96) and lost their second straight game after winning four in a row.
Harden finished 6 for 15 from the field, while Norman Powell (13 points) shot 5 for 18 overall. Harden was 3 for 4 from 3-point range in the first quarter but he missed all four attempts after that. He moved within three 3-pointers of tying Ray Allen (2,973) for the second-most on the NBA’s career list behind Golden State star Steph Curry (3,779).
Terance Mann had 14 points and seven rebounds for the Clippers, while Kris Dunn had 11 points and eight assists and Derrick Jones Jr. had 11 points.
The Clippers have struggled defensively in their last two games and would certainly benefit from the return of All-Star forward Kawhi Leonard, who hasn’t played this season while rehabilitating his right knee. He didn’t make this road trip and it remains unclear when the two-time NBA Finals MVP will make his season debut.
Fred VanVleet had 15 points, five rebounds and five assists for the Rockets, while Dillon Brooks had 15 points and five rebounds. Sengun finished with 13 points, 11 rebounds, six assists and four blocked shots.
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Eason (10 rebounds) and Thompson (11 rebounds) continue to give Houston a boost off the bench. Eason has scored in double figures in five straight games and Thompson has done so in three of the last four. Eason had eight points during the 19-2 run when Houston gained control.
KEY STAT
The Rockets outrebounded the Clippers 59-42, including an 18-10 advantage in offensive boards, which helped the hosts to a 19-6 margin on second-chance points.
UP NEXT
The teams meet again in Houston on Friday at 5 p.m. PT.