Rockets Kick Up Storm for L.A.

On the plus side, the Clippers avoided Houston’s first snowstorm in 15 years, arriving in town Saturday evening, a day late.

And three starters sat out the fourth quarter at the Toyota Center, which should leave them a bit fresher for tonight’s game against the Memphis Grizzlies.

Otherwise, it was hard to pinpoint any positives for the Clippers as they flew out of Texas and winged their way toward Tennessee late Sunday night after the Houston Rockets had saddled them with their sixth loss in seven games.

Tracy McGrady, Jim Jackson and Yao Ming combined for 62 points and the Rockets led for all but the first two minutes of a 96-79 victory.

Trailing by 12 points at halftime, the Clippers opened the third quarter with a 9-0 run and the Rockets missed their first five shots of the second half. But then Jackson made two three-point shots in 10 seconds, sandwiched around a head-scratching Chris Kaman turnover courtesy of the Clipper center’s stepping onto the court while inbounding the ball, and the Rockets regained command.

Nearly one-third of the way into the season, the Clippers still haven’t defeated a team that made the Western Conference playoffs last season.

They’re 0-7 after again playing without guards Marko Jaric and Kerry Kittles.

Jaric sat out for the second game in a row because of a sprained right foot and said he would not be available until Wednesday night against the Utah Jazz, at the earliest. Kittles, on the injured list because of sciatica caused by a bulging disk in his lower back, will be sidelined for at least three more games. He is scheduled for a second epidural Wednesday after the first provided little relief.

Corey Maggette returned to the lineup after sitting out Tuesday’s overtime victory over the New Orleans Hornets because of a strained left groin and led the Clippers with 23 points, eight assists and seven rebounds.

But after tweaking the injury in the third quarter he sat out the fourth, as did Kaman and Elton Brand, who had only 11 points and three rebounds.

“With a game to play [tonight], it didn’t seem to make much sense” to leave them in, Coach Mike Dunleavy said. “I let some other guys get some experience.”

One was Bobby Simmons, who missed 10 of 13 shots and scored six points, 10 below his average, after matching a season high with 30 against the Hornets.

The Clippers, who’ve lost their last eight games against the Rockets, again dipped below .500 (12-13), the Rockets hitting them with an early 12-0 run to put them in a hole and then, after they rallied, burying them again.

Yao scored 11 of his 20 points in the first quarter and had 17 at halftime. Jackson made two three-point shots in the first half and three in the third quarter en route to 21 points. McGrady scored 12 of his 21 in the second half.

“We struggled with their size all night long,” Dunleavy said. “The beginning of the game they got too deep against us with Yao in the paint. They hurt us in the first half big-time on the offensive boards.”

And then after they got close, Jackson bombed them from the outside, hitting three-point shots at 7:07 of the third quarter and again at 6:57.

In a flash, the Rocket lead went from 52-49 to 58-49 and grew from there.

“It was real tough,” Clipper guard Rick Brunson said. “When you’re battling like that, it’s like climbing up a mountain. You’re making good strides ... and then, boom, you fall back a couple steps. It’s more mental than physical.”