Clippers race to early lead, cruise past Rockets

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Marcus Morris Sr. scored 27 points and Luke Kennard added 25 as the Los Angeles Clippers sped to a 17-point lead in the first half and beat the Houston Rockets 142-111 Thursday night in the final game before the NBA’s All-Star break.

Terance Mann scored 20 points as the Clippers won for the third time in four games. Los Angeles shot 51.4% (18 of 35) from 3-point range, and had a 50-35 rebounding advantage. Kennard went 8 of 9 from 3-point range in his last game before Saturday’s 3-point contest.

"I think the last few games I played, there were some shots that I turned down and I think tonight I shot some tougher shots and had tougher looks," Kennard said. "That’s what the coaches wanted me to do. Any kind of space, they want me to get it off, and I thought I had the mindset tonight of just doing it (in) the last game before the break."

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Los Angeles Clippers guard Terance Mann, left, shoots as Houston Rockets center Alperen Sengun defends during the first half of an NBA basketball game Thursday, Feb. 17, 2022, in Los Angeles. (AP Photo/Mark J. Terrill)

Jalen Green had 21 points and Jae’Sean Tate added 19 for the Rockets, who lost their seventh straight game and for the 11th time in 12 games. Christian Wood and Josh Christopher scored 13 points apiece for Houston, which appeared to run out of energy one night after nearly pulling off a road upset over the Phoenix Suns.

"There were definitely times I looked out there and I was like, ‘Man, these guys are beat,’" Rockets head coach Stephen Silas said. "After a heck of a game last night, where they tried their hearts out and were all so into the