A 19-point third-quarter lead by the Clippers at Staples Center last night had many East Coast NBA fans turning in early during Game 6 of Rockets-Clippers. We prematurely celebrated Chris Paul’s first trip to the Conference Finals with co-workers, and then sat back to savor his moment. What we got instead was a near-total self-immolation by Doc’s group as James Harden Corey Brewer and Josh Smith ran rampant during a fourth-quarter comeback that saw the Rockets outscore the Clippers, 40-15, in a 119-107 win to force a Game 7 on their home floor. Meanwhile, most of Clippers community is stuck in a near-catatonic state after watching what transpired.
Let’s check in on those NBA players who reacted on Twitter to the incredible turn of events in the final 15 minutes of game action.
The Magic man knows a thing or two about Los Angeles
The Clippers are in a world of trouble after not closing out at home in Game 6 and now having to go to Houston for Game 7.
— Earvin Magic Johnson (@MagicJohnson) May 15, 2015
Josh Smith is the hero for the Rockets knocking down 3 three-pointers and scoring 14pts of his 19pts in the 4th quarter!
— Earvin Magic Johnson (@MagicJohnson) May 15, 2015
The Clippers did not close out the 3rd qtr and the Rockets stole the momentum at the beginning of the 4th qtr.
— Earvin Magic Johnson (@MagicJohnson) May 15, 2015
Former player and current analyst Brent Barry sets a hater straight
Why? You gotta stop complaining to your grocer about your barber…what an amazing turn of events. https://t.co/du26F1NvFy
— Brent Barry (@Barryathree) May 15, 2015
Aldridge isn’t a player, but he aptly summed up what happened to Lawler’s Law last night
And, Lawler's Law: pic.twitter.com/eqtGLl2ZRT
— David Aldridge (@davidaldridgedc) May 15, 2015
Players were mostly buzzing about Houston’s comeback, including a certain former Rocket who got knocked out by them in the first round
That’s as impressive of a comeback as you’ll ever see ..sheesh.
— John Henson (@Johnhenson31) May 15, 2015
Rockets might get game 7 👀
— Dorell Wright 🏁 (@DWRIGHTWAY1) May 15, 2015
Wow…what a comeback! Rockets arent goin down without a fight…and Harden is on the bench! Crazy! #NBAPlayoffs
— Anthony Tolliver (@ATolliver44) May 15, 2015
#NBAPlayoffs WHAT a comeback!
— chase budinger (@CBudinger) May 15, 2015
rockets showing heart of a champion right now
— TJ Ford (@tj_ford) May 15, 2015
Rockets hooping
— Dorell Wright 🏁 (@DWRIGHTWAY1) May 15, 2015
What a comeback by Houston
— Derrick Coleman (@44TheLegend) May 15, 2015
This is unbelievable! What a comeback. Hats off.
— Chandler Parsons (@ChandlerParsons) May 15, 2015
Kenny Smith and Corey Maggette don’t know what happened after taking a brief respite from the game
https://twitter.com/Corey_Maggette/status/599082539131604992
A couple of important questions
How come we can't get a shot of Ballmer now?
— Tom Tolbert (@byronjr23) May 15, 2015
WOWWW!!!! Did the #Clippers think this game was over? They probably just eliminated them-self from getting to the Western Conference finals.
— Carl Landry (@CarlLandry) May 15, 2015
Others gave DAP to Josh Smith and Corey Brewer, including Smoove’s former teammate in Detroit
B4 josh took it over. Cory brewer got it cracking
— Dorell Wright 🏁 (@DWRIGHTWAY1) May 15, 2015
https://twitter.com/BrandonJennings/status/599081071011991553
They better without Harden right now…on both hands..
— Rudy Gobert (@rudygobert27) May 15, 2015
Like most of us watching, players were just as shocked at what happened
Stunned
— C.J. Watson (@Quietstorm_32) May 15, 2015
Wow! #NBAPlayoffs #LACvsHOU
— Chris Bosh (@chrisbosh) May 15, 2015
https://twitter.com/KButter5/status/599080153101180928
Nobody is ever going to forget where they were when this went down. We lay awake last night for hours grasping for some semblance of an answer to what we just watched, and we’re guessing the Clippers still aren’t asleep. Game 7 is on Sunday, giving both teams an extra day of rest, but at present no time has been set for the game. NBA schedule-makers are just as shaken as the rest of us by what went down.
