Clippers Blow Out Bulls 120-93 For 4th Straight Victory
LOS ANGELES (AP) — Jamal Crawford scored 12 of his 26 points in the fourth quarter, leading a dominant bench effort for the second straight game, and the Los Angeles Clippers defeated the Chicago Bulls 120-93 on Sunday for their fourth consecutive victory.
J.J. Redick added 21 points and DeAndre Jordan had 17 points and 20 rebounds for the Clippers, who improved to 15-3 without Blake Griffin. Their four-game streak has coincided with Griffin being out at least a month after breaking his right hand while punching the team's assistant equipment manager.
Jimmy Butler scored 23 points, Derrick Rose added 20 and Pau Gasol had 15 points and 14 rebounds for the Bulls. They've lost four of six and dropped to 10-11 on the road.
Crawford scored the Clippers' first eight points of the fourth, pushing their lead to 92-75.
Rose and Butler were held to four points each in the third.
The Clippers had three double-digit scorers off the bench a game after their reserves scored 56 points in a 105-93 win over the Lakers. Austin Rivers added 16 and Wesley Johnson had 11, with the duo combining for five 3-pointers.
Los Angeles pulled away in the third after clinging to a four-point lead at the start of the quarter. Led by Redick's 11 points, the Clippers built the game's first double-digit lead. In one stretch, they outscored the Bulls 15-9 despite going nearly 2½ minutes without a field goal to take an 84-73 lead. During that spurt, the Clippers made 7 of 8 free throws and got defensive stops.
TIP-INS
Bulls: Butler's first basket of the game pushed him over 4,000 career points. ... G Kirk Hinrich was scoreless on two shots in his return after missing six games with a left quad contusion. ... G-F Mike Dunleavy is getting closer to playing after back surgery that has kept him out since the season began. He has resumed practicing and will likely return after the All-Star break.
Clippers: Griffin wasn't at Staples Center for the second straight game and neither was staff member Matias Testi, the team's way of minimizing distractions surrounding their altercation in Toronto last weekend. ... F Jeff Ayres, who has had two points and two blocks in two games since his debut last weekend, will be signed to another 10-day contract. ... The series is even at 1-1 after the Clippers lost 83-80 on the road Dec. 10.
UP NEXT
Bulls: At Utah on Monday in the third game of a seven-game trip.
Clippers: Host Minnesota on Wednesday.
(© Copyright 2015 The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.)