Jordan Drops 30 Points And 13 Rebounds, Clippers Beat Celtics
BOSTON (AP) — DeAndre Jordan had 30 points and 13 rebounds and the Los Angeles Clippers beat the Boston Celtics 129-119 on Wednesday night for their fourth victory in five games.
Tobias Harris added 21 points, Danilo Gallinari had 20, and Lou Williams 19.
Kyrie Irving led Boston with 33 points and eight assists. Al Horford had 20 points, and Marcus Morris added 13 points and 11 rebounds. The Celtics lost for the fourth time in five games, a stretch that has seen them fall behind Toronto for the best record in the Eastern Conference.
Boston had opened a 99-95 lead early in the final quarter on Terry Rozier's 3 from the left wing before the Clippers went on 10-0 run over a 1:57 stretch.
Williams sparked the spree by scoring the initial six points, with the first 3 coming on a shot from beyond the arc in front of the Celtics' bench. He added a conventional 3-point play after his driving basket.
Los Angeles saw its lead sliced to three twice before Jordan had an alley-oop dunk and Harris followed with a 3-point play with just under three minutes to play.
Williams' 3-point play made it 126-116 in the final two minutes.
In the third quarter, the lead changed hands 10 times in the final 3:11, with the Clippers taking the final one, 93-91, on Harris' 3 from the left wing.
TIP-INS
Clippers: The are 5-2 since they sent Blake Griffin to Detroit in blockbuster trade on Jan. 29. ... Former Celtics G Avery Bradley got a nice ovation during pregame introductions.
Celtics: Coach Brad Stevens said G Marcus Smart (cut, right hand) will start practicing next Wednesday, and that he put the team in a "tough position" with the injury that he suffered when he cut his hand on glass at the team hotel in Los Angeles in late January.
GRONK COMMOTION
Patriots tight end Rob Gronkowski walked into the arena early into the third quarter, bringing cheers and a loud reaction from the fans sitting behind the basket where Irving was shooting free throws.
He waved to the fans when he walked past the stanchion to his front-row seat. Later, he danced when he was shown on the video board.
STREAK CONTINUES
Williams scored 15 or more points for the 27th straight game, the league's second longest active streak.
DUNK-FEST
Jordan had eight dunks in the game, four coming in the opening quarter.
NICE START
The Clippers opened a 31-17 lead late in the opening quarter and led 34-25 after one. They held the lead for the entire first half, holding a 61-57 edge at intermission.
UP NEXT
Clippers: At Golden State on Feb. 22. They're 1-2 against the Warriors this season, with all the games decided by double digits.
Celtics: At Detroit on Feb. 23. The teams have split two games.