James Harden got back on track with 32 points and Dwight Howard tallied 24 with 16 rebounds, but it was Houston's near historic free throw shooting that stole the headlines in Game 2.
The Rockets took 64 foul shots, two shy of an NBA all-time playoff high, in their 115-109 win over the Los Angeles Clippers that evened this seven-game Western Conference semifinals series at 1-1.
After knocking off Dallas in the first round in convincing fashion and having five days off to rest before Monday's Game 1, Houston came out flat and got embarrassed at home by the short-handed Clippers. The result of this one was in doubt until the closing moments.
A 10-2 run had Los Angeles to within 111-107 with a minute left, and Corey Brewer air-balled a runner at the other end to give the Clippers life. But Austin Rivers, starting his second straight game for injured star Chris Paul, lost the ball out of bounds and Howard sank two free throws at the other end.
Paul, after playing some of the best basketball of his career in a Round 1 win over the Spurs, sat again to nurse a strained left hamstring. Blake Griffin followed up his Game 1 triple-double with 34 points and 15 rebounds, but the free throw discrepancy was too much for L.A. to overcome.
Houston finished 42-for-64 from the stripe, led by Harden's perfect 15-for-15. It outscored Los Angeles by 17 points from the line and pulled off the win despite making five less field goals.
Game 3 is Friday in Los Angeles.
[SportsNetwork.com]
