Clippers Let the Rockets Slip Away in Third Quarter

How badly did the Clippers play in Friday night’s 112-105 loss to the Houston Rockets?

So badly that they might have had trouble beating a team from the Continental Basketball Assn.

The Clippers took a third-quarter siesta after grabbing a a two-point halftime lead against the Rockets.

The Rockets, who trailed, 47-45, at halftime, outscored the Clippers, 42-18, in the third quarter to grab an 87-65 lead going into the final quarter.

“The third quarter was a killer for us,” said Clipper forward Michael Cage, who scored 24 points and grabbed 22 rebounds, including a team-record 13 in the opening 12 minutes. “They steamrollered us in the third quarter. They did whatever they wanted to.”

The Clippers were embarrassed in the third quarter. The lowlight came when center Benoit Benjamin landed flat on his rear end on the fast break as he attempted to reach for a pass from guard Darnell Valentine.

“The only thing I said when I saw Ben go down was ‘Timber!’ ” said Rocket forward Cedric Maxwell, a former Clipper.

Houston forward Rodney McCray had 15 points and 11 rebounds in the third quarter, and guard Allen Leavell added 11 points in the third quarter.

McCray and Leavell scored more points between them in the third quarter than the entire Clipper team.

“That was one of our worst quarters this season,” said Clipper guard Mike Woodson, who scored 21 points.

Los Angeles was outscored, 30-18, after Houston center Akeem Olajuwon went to the bench with his fourth foul with 5:44 seconds remaining in the third quarter.

The Rockets shot 51.6% from the field in the third quarter, making 16 of 31 shots, while the Clippers shot 28% (7 of 25).

The Rockets lost interest in the final quarter, and the Clippers rallied to cut the final margin of seven.

“I’m glad we played that third quarter,” Houston Coach Bill Fitch said. “We ran the court and played good defense in the third quarter. But we dedicated that fourth quarter to a few words in the dictionary.”

Olajuwon led Houston with 24 points, 18 rebounds and 4 blocked shots. McCray had 18 points and 14 rebounds. Leavell added 15 points, and guard Eric (Sleepy) Floyd had 15 points and 10 assists. Purvis Short added 14 points in 21 minutes off the bench as the Rockets (27-18) won for the fifth time in the last six games.

Benjamin had 15 points, 8 rebounds and 6 blocked shots for the Clippers.

The Clippers ran their fast break to perfection in the first half, but they got run over by the Rockets in the second half.

Los Angeles had a season-high 27 turnovers, which Houston converted into 22 points.

“We played well in the first half,” Clipper Coach Gene Shue said. “We were running very well, but we couldn’t convert the baskets we needed. We broke down in the third quarter quarter, and we weren’t getting back on defense. We started playing again in the fourth quarter.”

But it was too late for the Clippers to dig themselves out of the hole they had dug for themselves in the third quarter.

The Rockets said Fitch made an inspirational talk at halftime. Unfortunately, most of what he said can’t be printed in a family newspaper.

“He said some words that he knew would get us going,” McCray said of Fitch’s halftime speech. “And we came out pounding the boards and running. We pounded the boards and ran every time we had the opportunity, even when we didn’t.”

Clipper Notes

The Clippers play the Dallas Mavericks Sunday at 7 p.m. The game will be televised by Channel 5. The Mavericks are 2-0 against the Clippers this season. . . . Swen Nater held the old franchise mark for most rebounds in one quarter, grabbing 11 in a game against the Denver Nuggets on Dec. 14, 1979. . . . Reggie Williams, who has been on the injured list with a strained left knee, had hoped to be activated after the All-Star break, but he said he still has soreness in his knee.