Pro Sports

Zubac has 22 points to help Clippers rout Rockets 113-100

Posted March 01, 2022 6:00 am

By KRISTIE RIEKEN

Los Angeles Clippers center Ivica Zubac, right, dunks as Houston Rockets guard Jalen Green defends during the second half of an NBA basketball game, Sunday, Feb. 27, 2022, in Houston. (AP Photo/Eric Christian Smith) The Associated Press

HOUSTON (AP) - Ivica Zubac had 22 points and 12 rebounds, and the Los Angeles Clippers pulled away in the third quarter and cruised to a 113-100 victory over the Houston Rockets on Tuesday night.

The Clippers used a 40-point third quarter to take a 14-point lead entering the fourth. They then scored the first seven points of the final period, with five from Amir Coffey, to make it 96-75 with 10 ˆ½ minutes to go.

Zubac and fellow starters Reggie Jackson, Marcus Morris and Nicolas Batum didn't play in the fourth quarter with the game out of reach.

Los Angeles routed Houston 142-111 in the last game before the All-Star break, but barely outlasted the Rockets on Sunday night for a 99-98 win. Houston led by as many as seven in the first half and was up by one at halftime before the Clippers pulled away in the third for another lopsided victory.

The Rockets got 20 points from rookie Jalen Green as their skid reached 10 games. Houston, which has the worst record in the Western Conference, has won just once in the last 15 games.

Morris added 18 points and Jackson had 17 to help the Clippers win their fourth consecutive game.

Zubac's performance helped the Clippers outrebound the Rockets 55-45.

Houston was up by two with about 9 minutes left when the Clippers scored the next seven points to start a 16-4 run that gave them a 73-63 lead about four minutes later. Jackson led the way in that stretch with three 3-pointers.

The Clippers were still up by 10 with about 2 ˆ½ minutes left in the third when Zubac was fouled on a dunk and finished the three-point play to make it 83-70.

Garrison Mathews made a 3 for Houston after that, but Los Angeles closed out the quarter with an 89-75 lead.

TIP-INS

Clippers: Jackson had five rebounds and six assists. ... Coffey scored 10 off the bench. ... Terance Mann had 11 points, seven rebounds and five assists.

Rockets: Kevin Porter Jr. missed a second straight game with a sprained left ankle. ... Christian Wood scored 17 points. ... Houston made 13 of 39 3-pointers. ... Dennis Schroder sustained a contusion to his right eye in the third quarter but returned to the game.

UP NEXT

Clippers: Host the Lakers Thursday night.

Rockets: Host Utah Wednesday night.

___

More AP NBA: https://apnews.com/hub/nba and https://twitter.com/AP_Sports

Los Angeles Clippers' Amir Coffey, right, reaches for the ball as Houston Rockets' Jalen Green (0) drives toward the basket during the first half of an NBA basketball game Tuesday, March 1, 2022, in Houston. (AP Photo/David J. Phillip) The Associated Press

Houston Rockets' Christian Wood (35) reaches to block the shot of Los Angeles Clippers' Reggie Jackson (1) during the first half of an NBA basketball game Tuesday, March 1, 2022, in Houston. (AP Photo/David J. Phillip) The Associated Press

Los Angeles Clippers' Isaiah Hartenstein (55) reaches to block the shot of Houston Rockets' Alperen Sengun during the first half of an NBA basketball game Tuesday, March 1, 2022, in Houston. (AP Photo/David J. Phillip) The Associated Press

Houston Rockets' Christian Wood (35) and Los Angeles Clippers' Terance Mann (14) reach for a rebound during the first half of an NBA basketball game Tuesday, March 1, 2022, in Houston. (AP Photo/David J. Phillip) The Associated Press

Los Angeles Clippers guard Terance Mann (14) reacts after being called for a foul on Houston Rockets forward Jae'Sean Tate, bottom right, during the second half of an NBA basketball game, Sunday, Feb. 27, 2022, in Houston. (AP Photo/Eric Christian Smith) The Associated Press

Houston Rockets guard Jalen Green (0) grabs a rebound over Los Angeles Clippers center Isaiah Hartenstein (55) during the second half of an NBA basketball game, Sunday, Feb. 27, 2022, in Houston. (AP Photo/Eric Christian Smith) The Associated Press

Houston Rockets guard Dennis Schroeder (17) shoots as Los Angeles Clippers forward Nicolas Batum (33) defends during the second half of an NBA basketball game, Sunday, Feb. 27, 2022, in Houston. (AP Photo/Eric Christian Smith) The Associated Press

Los Angeles Clippers guard Reggie Jackson, left, shoots as Houston Rockets guard Jalen Green defends during the second half of an NBA basketball game, Sunday, Feb. 27, 2022, in Houston. (AP Photo/Eric Christian Smith) The Associated Press

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