LOS ANGELES, Feb. 28 (Xinhua) -- The Los Angeles Clippers were beaten by the Houston Rockets at Staples Center on Wednesday night 105-92, heating up the competition between the Clippers, the Denver Nuggets and the Utah Jazz for the last ticket to the playoffs in the Western Conference.

The Clippers' loss is mainly attributed to their catastrophic performance in the first quarter, when they took only 12 points all with a 22.7 percent field goal rate and one of eight three pointers. In this season, the Clippers have a 46.7 percent FG rate and 36.3 percent three pointer rate on average.

When the Clippers missed 16 of their first 19 shots, suffered 11 turnovers and trailed by as many as 27 points in the first quarter, the Rockets, led by their superstar James Harden, had stormed to a 34-12 lead at the end of the quarter.

James Harden scored 25 points, while Clint Capela and Eric Gordon each added 22 for the Rockets, who made 13 three pointers.

The Clippers Tobias Harris had 24 points and Montrezl Harrell scored 22.

After Wednesday' s game, the Clippers are still standing in 8th place in the Western Conference with same winning rate as the Nuggets.