LOS ANGELES – This may not last, but while it does, there's no hiding this fact about the Clippers: They can score points. Lots and lots of points.
On Monday night at Staples Center, they ran up 137 against the Houston Rockets -- the most by a Clippers team since 2009, when they scored 140 against the New York Knicks.
It's a frenetic pace, but it works. And although the Clippers have given up 100 or more points in every game this season, their defense is part of the reason for their success.
They beat the previously unbeaten Rockets and new center Dwight Howard 137-118, their third victory in a row. They had a season-high 42 points in the first quarter, scored 78 in the first half to tie a team record since the franchise moved to L.A., and held guard James Harden to 15 points and 0 for 7 from the three-point line.
"Offensively, we played with great pace," forward Blake Griffin said. "We got the ball out quick, we scored in transition, we scored in the half court. That's what we want."
It's clearly working. All five starters, plus reserves Jamal Crawford and Byron Mullens
