After overcoming an injury to their floor leader and the Houston Rockets' hack-attack, the Los Angeles Clippers can conquer another obstacle with an historic road victory.
As Chris Paul's hamstring continues to improve, the Clippers look to secure their first trip to the Western Conference Finals on Tuesday night against a Rockets team searching for answers at both ends of the floor.
Paul appears to be showing more confidence in his ailing leg after sitting out the first two games in Houston. He had 12 points in 23 minutes in a 25-point Game 3 win before scoring 15 with 12 assists in 26 minutes of Sunday's 128-95 victory.
The Clippers, who have already tied a franchise single-season record with seven playoff wins, have three chances to advance past the second round for the first time in their mostly futile 44-year history.
"It's about us - not about the Clippers franchise and all this - but about us in that locker room," the eight-time All-Star point guard said. "We've just got to go out there and play."
Coach Doc Rivers hinted that Houston's constant fouling in Game 4 - an attempt to slow Los Angeles' potent offense - may have helped Paul rest his ailing leg during free throws. DeAndre Jordan set a playoff record for foul shots in a half with 28 over the first 24 minutes and the Clippers went 37 of 63 from the stripe overall.
"I'm sure they're not fouling to make sure my hamstring feels good," Paul joked. "If so, I appreciate it, I guess. I'm feeling better. I think that's all that matters. We've just got to stay hungry for the game on Tuesday."
It should be interesting to see how the Rockets opt to play Jordan in Game 5 after the center ended up with 26 points and 17 rebounds while going 14 of 34 from the line. The Clippers are 8-0 since last February when he makes seven or more free throws.
Houston's fouling strategy did little to improve its chances as Los Angeles ended up with a playoff-high point total after averaging 116.7 points over the first three games. Blake Griffin has averaged 25.8 points and 12.8 rebounds in the series, while J.J. Redick has scored 19.5 per game and hit 14 of 26 from 3-point range.
"We've got to stay focused on getting stops," said Rockets guard James Harden, who is averaging 24.5 points in the four games. "When we do get an opportunity to attack, (we have to) take advantage of it."
After scoring 112.4 per game over their first seven this postseason, the Rockets averaged 97.0 points while losing the last two at Staples Center by a combined 58. They had previously been blown out by 25 or more just three times all season.
Dwight Howard will likely need to become more of a factor after he had seven points and six rebounds in 18 minutes Sunday. He received two quick fouls and a technical less than four minutes in and fouled out early in the fourth quarter.
The center might be able to bounce back at Toyota Center, where he totaled 46 points and 26 rebounds in Games 1 and 2.
The Rockets have dropped six of nine home games versus Los Angeles after splitting the first two there in this series. They'll need to bounce back with their 25th win in 31 home games to extend their season.
"This is the ultimate adversity right here," Harden said. "We've got to get one at home with Game 5 back at the house. It's really win or go home. Our backs are against the wall and we've got to show up."
