Clippers 106, Rockets 96: Caron Butler scored 17 of his 19 points in the first quarter as host Los Angeles came out on fire and held off shorthanded Houston.

Chauncey Billups returned to the lineup with 19 points and Blake Griffin added 20 and 11 rebounds for the Clippers, who were making their return at home after an eight-game road trip.

Chandler Parsons scored 17 points and Jeremy Lin had 14 as the Rockets wrapped up their three-game road trip with a 1-2 mark. All-Star guard James Harden (ankle) sat out after struggling through pregame activities.

Los Angeles came out strong in the first quarter, going 17-for-22 from the field and coming within four points of matching the NBA record for points in the first frame. Butler led the onslaught with three 3-pointers and Billups hit both of his attempts from beyond the arc as the Clippers closed the period with a 46-28 lead.

They stretched it to 69-49 at the half and led by as many as 22 points in the third quarter before Houston chipped away. The Rockets would draw as close as 93-82 early in the fourth quarter but Los Angeles brought the starters back and closed it out.

GAME NOTEBOOK: Houston F Donatas Motiejunas scored a career-high 13 points and Rockets G James Anderson added a season-high 14 off the bench. … Billups (back) sat out the finale of the road trip at Philadelphia on Monday but showed no rust by going 6-of-9 from the field in 20 minutes. … The Clippers have won three in a row and will face the Lakers as the road team on Thursday before heading into the All-Star break.