 Elton Brand scored at least 20 points for the 10th straight game. Robert Mora/NBAE/Getty Images from Rockets-Clippers: 56k | 300k |
The Clippers had lost three in a row, two since Odom returned from an eight-game suspension for violation of the NBA's anti-drug program. Prior to his ban, the Clippers had dropped their first three games with Odom in the starting lineup.
"My timing is off a little bit and one mistake is like four," Odom said. "I just try to focus and play the way I play, which is team basketball."
Odom has returned as a reserve and had not played well. But the 6-10 forward sparked the Clippers after coming off the bench in the first period and had a big steal and block down the stretch. He added six rebounds, five assists and three blocks.
"It feels good, especially when I can contribute like tonight," Odom said. "I know what I'm capable of and I'm not going to lose focus on that. I can play this game. It may take some time to break into the flow, but I'll try not to take anything away from my team. I'll just try to help."
"We're definitely going to improve on that (1-5) mark," teammate Elton Brand said. "He's definitely not a bad luck charm."
Brand scored 21 points and Jeff McInnis added 13 for the Clippers (6-8), who saw a 21-point lead cut to 78-76 with just under eight minutes remaining. But they regrouped and improved to 6-4 at home.
"Those guys felt like they could make a run, but we were able to get the win," Odom said.
"It's a big win for us," Clippers coach Alvin Gentry added. "It could have been a disaster to play as well as we did in stretches and to have lost."
Steve Francis scored 17 points before leaving with a sore left foot for the Rockets, who have lost six of their last eight games. Francis sat out Friday's loss at Seattle with the same injury and will see a doctor Monday in Houston.
"It's a burning feeling, something I've never felt before," he said. "It was just a different type of hurt."
"It's not good, whatever it is," Rockets coach Rudy Tomjanovich said.
Houston trailed 72-63 entering the fourth quarter but pulled within a bucket on a jumper by Cuttino Mobley with 7:47 to go. After a timeout, Odom answered with a jumper.
Mobley made a free throw and the teams traded baskets for more than three minutes. A drive by Moochie Norris, who came on for Francis, made it 86-83 with 2:31 remaining.
A tip-in by Michael Olowokandi gave the Clippers an 88-83 lead with 2:02 left. Corey Maggette added two free throws less than a minute later and Odom blocked shots by Norris and Kenny Thomas on the next possession.
"Lamar Odom came in the game and gave us a big boost at the end," McInnis said. "With him in there was like having two point guards out there. It's good when you have another point guard trying to think alike and Lamar Odom gave us that at the end. I'm ready to have him back."
Brand grabbed 10 rebounds, Olowokandi had nine points and nine boards and Quentin Richardson also scored nine points for the Clippers, who shot 52 percent (36-of-69) from the field.
Glen Rice scored 15 points and Mobley added 12 for the Rockets, who shot 44 percent (32-of-73) and were outscored 48-32 in the paint.
"There's no disrespect in losing to the Clippers," Tomjanovich said. "They are not a bad team at all."
Odom scored eight points in the first quarter, when the Clippers shot 65 percent and raced to a 31-16 lead.
"He gave us a great spark," Brand said. "It's great having Lamar back. He really came out and did what he does best. He passed the ball, hit his shots and played very well."
Baskets by Odom and Darius Miles opened the second quarter and pushed the advantage to 35-16. Olowokandi's short jumper gave LA its largest lead at 50-29 before Houston scored the last eight points of the first half.
Rice had consecutive three-pointers in a 14-0 run that pulled the Rockets within 58-53 midway through the third quarter. Odom answered with a 20-footer.