Los Angeles Clippers thrash Houston Rockets

The Los Angeles Clippers have regained the lead in their playoff series with the Houston Rockets with a comfortable 124-99 victory in game three.

Chris Paul returned from a hamstring injury to help the hosts cruise ahead early on, as he and Blake Griffin propelled the Clippers to a nine-point lead by the end of the first quarter.

The Rockets were still in touch at half time though, thanks to a run of free points before the break to leave them just seven adrift.

Houston closed the gap to just three points shortly after the restart, but Griffin and Austin Rivers, the son of Clippers coach Doc Rivers, led a 20-3 run to finish the third, leaving the hosts 23 ahead going into the final period.

Rivers finished with a playoff career-high of 25, while JJ Redick kept the points coming late on to complete a 31-point game.

With the Clippers now 2-1 up in the Western Conference semi-final, the teams meet again tomorrow.