Clippers fall back to earth again with 109-105 loss to Houston Rockets

Clippers forward Blake Griffin goes up for a shot against Houston Rockets center Dwight Howard during the first half of a game on Nov. 7.

Nov. 7, 2015 10:47 PM PT

The Clippers started the season with four straight victories, but now they’re on a two-game losing streak.

The Houston Rockets beat them on Saturday night at Staples Center, 109-105, in a game that Chris Paul sat out because of a groin injury.

The Rockets turned a 10-point second-quarter deficit into an 11-point fourth-quarter advantage, but the Clippers clawed their way back. Paul Pierce made a three-pointer to tie the score at 105-105 with 40.9 seconds left.

James Harden then made two free throws to put the Rockets up by two, 107-105, with 32.6 seconds remaining.

The Clippers had a chance to tie it when Blake Griffin attempted a jumper, caught his own rebound and attempted to tip it in, but neither shot was successful. The referees conducted a replay review to determine whether a Rockets player had touched the ball while it was above the cylinder, which would have been goaltending. But the officials ruled that the original play would stand.

Ty Lawson then made two free throws to give the Rockets a four-point lead.

The is the same Rockets team that knocked the Clippers out of the playoffs last season in the second round after overcoming a three-games-to-one series deficit, becoming just the ninth team in NBA history to advance after trailing by such a margin.

Harden finished with 46 points for Houston, making 14 of 26 field-goal attempts, and Dwight Howard had 20 points on eight-for-10 shooting, plus 20 rebounds. Griffin scored 35 for the Clippers, making 14 of 22 shots, and added 11 rebounds and five assists.

Harden had 40 points through three quarters, helping the Rockets take a five-point lead into the fourth quarter, 83-78.

J.J. Redick scored 19 points for the Clippers. DeAndre Jordan had 14 rebounds to go with 11 points.

Austin Rivers started in place of the injured Paul. Rivers finished with 10 points but missed eight of 12 shots and had only one assist.

The Clippers outshot the Rockets, 47.7% to 44.2%. But the Clippers made only four of 22 three-point attempts. The Rockets bested the Clippers on the boards, outrebounding them, 47-41.

The Clippers, who fell to the Golden State Warriors on Wednesday, play host to the Memphis Grizzlies on Monday.

Follow Melissa Rohlin on Twitter @melissarohlin