It’s Texas Fold-’Em for Clippers and Streak

In the NBA generally and for the Clippers in particular, it seems, the road is where winning streaks go to die.

Already this season the Clippers have had a four-game winning streak ended at Cleveland, a two-game run halted at Utah and, on a Friday night deep in the heart of Texas, a four-game winning streak ended in the new Toyota Center.

The Houston Rockets, in the throes of the worst three-game offensive slump in their history only a few days ago, made nearly 50% of their shots, outscored the Clippers in each of the first three quarters and were barely challenged in a dominating 99-85 victory.

Opening a three-game Texas swing that continues tonight at Dallas and ends Tuesday night at San Antonio, the Clippers were riding high after Wednesday’s victory over the Milwaukee Bucks wrapped up a 4-0 run at Staples Center, their first sweep of a homestand longer than three games since 1985.

But they trailed from the time Rocket guard Cuttino Mobley scored the first two of his 22 points 76 seconds into the game, draining a jumper that made the score 4-2.

The Clippers missed 14 of their first 17 shots and nearly 64% overall, their deficit growing to 18 points in the fourth quarter.

“It’s very tough,” the Clippers’ Serbian point guard, Marko Jaric, said in broken English, “but if we want to become serious team and be in race for the playoffs, we need to start winning road games even against tough teams.”

Or any team. They haven’t won on the road since Nov. 14, when they defeated the Golden State Warriors at Oakland, losing six in a row.

“It’s a reality check,” forward Elton Brand said of the latest loss.

Before winning Wednesday night at Cleveland, the Rockets had lost three in row while scoring only 215 points, the lowest three-game output in franchise history. In the midst of the losing streak, they held a players-only meeting to air their gripes, after which Chinese center Yao Ming was asked what had been said.

“I don’t know,” he said in perfect English. “I don’t speak English.”

Whatever they were, the Rockets’ problems seemed to be solved in time for a visit from the Clippers.

Or, as one fan shouted repeatedly, “Same ol’ Clippers.”

Yao, who had 18 points and 10 rebounds last month in a 105-90 victory over the Clippers at Staples Center, had 21 and 10 this time, making nine of 13 shots.

“If you don’t do your work against him, you let him get deep catches in the paint, he’s going to score,” Clipper Coach Mike Dunleavy said of Yao, who scored the last of his points early in the third quarter. “You let him get position and deliver the ball, he’s going to hurt you.”

Jim Jackson had 12 points and 12 rebounds for the Rockets, Steve Francis 16 points and six assists. Mobley made nine of 15 shots and former Clippers Maurice Taylor and Eric Piatkowski combined for 20 points.

“We didn’t do anything we needed to do to beat this team,” Dunleavy said. “They executed well early, made some shots that were contested. That was the good news. The bad news was, we gave them too many uncontested opportunities [the rest of the way], whether they be dunks or shots.

“And they’re too good an offensive team [to allow that]. They’ve been getting beat up in the papers about not being able to score, but they’ve got tons of guys that can shoot the ball, and they showed their ability tonight.”

For the Clippers, Quentin Richardson scored 20 points, making four of seven three-point shots. Corey Maggette scored 16. Reserve Bobby Simmons had nine points, eight rebounds and six steals, Brand 11 points and 11 rebounds.

But with the 7-foot-5 Yao blocking five shots and altering others, Brand and center Chris Kaman made only six of 20 shots, Brand missing eight of 12.