Chris Paul and the Los Angeles Clippers end Houston's unbeaten run

c/o AP and Jae C. Hong via ESPN

The Houston Rockets came into their match against the Los Angeles Clippers looking good and on a high. They were one of four unbeaten teams at the start of the day. Their offense was humming.

Then Chris Paul brought them back to down to earth, scoring 23 points, dishing out 17 assists as they beat the Rockets, 137-118.

With no Patrick Beverley to harass him effectively, the superstar guard took advantage of whomever guarded him, particularly against Jeremy Lin. (h/t to Larry Brown Sports)

c/o SB Nation

Here is the matching audio:



Houston can seek revenge soon enough. They play again this weekend, but this time in the Toyota Center. Both teams play two games until then (Clippers go on the road for their Florida swing, while Rockets play against the Blazers before their date with the Lakers in Houston)

Chris Paul outduels Stephen Curry, Clippers beat Warriors

c/o Luis Sinco of the Los Angeles Times

After their surprising loss to the Los Angeles Lakers on Opening Night, the Los Angeles Clippers wanted to make things right on their home opener.

Chris Paul scored 42 points, dished off 15 assists and nabbed 6 steals, as the Clippers outpaced the Golden State Warriors, 126-115. He became the first player to pull off a 40 pt - 15 asst -5 stl line in NBA history (steals were first documented as a stat officially in the 1973-74 season) and the third player with a 40 pt - 15 asst line in the last 20 years (LeBron James and Allen Iverson being the other two).

The point guard from Wake Forest dazzled throughout the game, especially in the second half, as he and Blake Griffin connected on three straight plays that debunked any notion that "Lob City is dead."



And elicited this reaction from Mark Jackson.

h/t to the people of SB Nation

Billed as a match-up between two sensational point guards, it did not disappoint. Stephen Curry and his red-hot shooting was on display as well, with the sweet-shooting guard from Davidson torching the Staples Center with 38 points, built on 9/14 from beyond the arc. Armed with different offensive styles, Paul and Curry combined to score 47 points in the second half.

The game also featured some heightened feistiness from both sides, reflecting the intensity that was festering since last season.



Griffin finished with a double-double of 23 points and 10 rebounds, as well as this exchange of words:



Their next meeting will be on Christmas Day at the Oracle Arena.