If someone predicted that the Houston Rockets would win on a comeback this epic, they probably would have been lying. However, that is exactly what happened as the Rockets stunned them in a shocking 119-107 win to force Game 7.
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NBA Playoffs Game 6 preview: Houston Rockets at Los Angeles Clippers
NBA Playoffs 2015: Los Angeles Clippers vs. Houston Rockets Game 5 preview and prediction
The Clippers appeared to have the series wrapped up as they held a 19-point lead toward the end of the third quarter.
The game stayed close in the first quarter. Power forward Blake Griffin got off to a fast start with 11 of their points, and his best moment came with an incredible slam dunk.
The second quarter was no different for Griffin as he scored another 11 points, and he capped it off with another fantastic slam dunk while leaping over Rockets point guard Jason Terry.
The third quarter was different as the Rockets slowed down with only 17 points, and Clippers point guard Chris Paul stepped up his play with 12 points.
Griffin also impressed the crowd again with this amazing spin move and shot that he tossed up into the basket.
However, the Clippers were not in position to celebrate just yet despite holding a 92-79 lead at the end of the quarter.
The Rockets began to catch up in the fourth quarter, and they trimmed the Clippers’ lead to five points with about six minutes left in the game.
Shooting guard Corey Brewer completed the comeback with a wide-open dunk, which tied the game at 102.
Brewer came through in the clutch for the Rockets once again as he nailed a three-pointer to give the Rockets the lead with about four minutes left.
They would never lose this lead as the Clippers completely collapsed as they missed their last 14 shots of the game, until Paul made a meaningless three-pointer for the last play of the game.
Another factor that was likely to shock Clippers fans and even Rockets fans was the performance of shooting guard James Harden, who shot 5-for-20 from the field.
However, he was able to make up for it at the free-throw line as he made 11 of his shots from the charity stripe and finished with 23 points in the game.
He was quiet in the passing and rebounding aspects of the game than his triple-double in Game 5 though as he snagged just two rebounds while dishing out three assists.
Center Dwight Howard put on a rebounding clinic as he grabbed 21 boards while scoring 20 points.
Small forward Josh Smith excelled from downtown as he shot 4-for-7 from there while finishing with 19 points and notching six rebounds.
Brewer added another 19 points while snagging 10 rebounds.
For the Clippers, Paul led with 31 points while contributing seven rebounds and 11 assists.
Griffin added 28 points and eight rebounds, but he was nowhere to be seen in the fourth quarter as he was held to zero points.
Paul also pulled a disappearing act in the fourth quarter with 2-of-6 shooting.
The Clippers have never made it past the second round of the NBA playoffs, and it’s now a strong possibility that this will not change as they will have to face the Rockets in Houston for Game 7.
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