Rockets Glide Past the Clippers

At 35, Clyde Drexler doesn’t soar quite as high, or as often, as he used to, but who can blame him? All those takeoffs and landings would slow down anyone, and the Houston Rocket star guard is only human.

But Drexler hasn’t lost that much, as the Clippers can attest.

Proving he’s still among the NBA’s elite showmen, Drexler scored 43 points in the Rockets’ 124-110 victory over the Clippers before 5,859 at the Sports Arena on Wednesday night.

“Clyde was like a young kid out there tonight,” Rocket Coach Rudy Tomjanovich said. “He moved great without the ball, he moved great with the ball and he shot great. It was just an outstanding performance.”

And it came when the Rockets (3-1) needed it most.

Houston played miserably in losing to the Seattle SuperSonics, 118-94, Tuesday night at Seattle. Houston needed to avoid another disappointing game, and Clipper Coach Bill Fitch wasn’t surprised by who provided the Rockets’ spark.

“He did what he had to do for them,” said Fitch, whose team dropped to 0-3. “Somebody had to step up for them, and that’s what Clyde did. That’s why Clyde is the great veteran he is.”

Drexler is in his 16th season. But Wednesday, the original Dream Teamer played as though he were a rookie.

Drexler, who played 34 minutes, came within seven points of matching his personal best of 50 points, accomplished in 1989 against Sacramento. Drexler made 15 of 25 field goals, three of five three-point shots and 10 of 11 free throws.

But the game wasn’t a total waste for all the Clippers. Guard Brent Barry and rookie forward Maurice Taylor continued to play well, scoring 26 and 15 points, respectively. Barry led the Clippers in rebounding for the second consecutive game, grabbing nine.

But this was Drexler’s night. He played a complete game, adding six assists and two steals, helping to ignite the Rockets’ fastbreak with his defense.

The future Hall of Famer began the game averaging only 12.7 points and shooting 38.2% from the field. Against the SuperSonics, Drexler had only nine points and three rebounds.

“We got a chance to take a little frustration out on the Clippers,” Drexler said.

Drexler had some help. Forward Charles Barkley had 13 points and a game-high 21 rebounds, as the Rockets outrebounded Clippers, 51-43, including 19-12 on offense. Swingman Mario Elie had 20 points, and reserve forward Kevin Willis had 16 points and six rebounds.

“This is what I expected after [Tuesday’s loss],” Tomjanovich said. “That was a throw-away game because we never showed up, we never played. We never competed, but we did tonight.”

How bad was this one for the Clippers? Rocket center Hakeem Olajuwon scored only 10 points and grabbed seven rebounds and it still wasn’t close.

“You know you’re in big trouble when Hakeem has that type of a game and they still win big,” said Taylor, displaying wisdom beyond his experience.

“That’s what happens when you have three of the greatest players of all time like they have in Drexler, Barkley and Olajuwon. They shot unconscious in the first quarter and we never could catch up.”

Drexler scored as many points (19) as the Clippers did in the first quarter.

The Clippers struggled throughout the game, trying Fitch’s patience by committing turnovers and playing porous defense. They trailed by as many as 17 points, 33-16, in the opening quarter on a 19-foot jumper by Drexler with 1:45 remaining.

“Clyde got off to a great start and he never slowed down,” said Clipper forward Loy Vaught, who had a subpar game with four points and three rebounds.

“Every time he touched it, he got them going.”

And for the Clippers, things went downhill from there.