Crawford, Paul Lead Clippers Past Magic, 114-90
ORLANDO, Fla. (AP) — Jamal Crawford had 22 points and Chris Paul added 16 points and nine assists as the Los Angeles Clippers beat the Orlando Magic 114-90 Wednesday night.
Blake Griffin scored 20 points, and Jordan Farmar and Matt Barnes each had 13 as the Clippers opened a seven-game East Coast trip with an easy victory.
Tobias Harris led Orlando with 25 points. Nik Vucevic contributed 19 points and 14 rebounds, and Channing Frye and Andrew Nicholson each had 10 each points for the Magic, who had won five of eight.
Los Angeles used a 27-11 run that spanned the last three minutes of the third quarter and first two minutes of the fourth to run away from the Magic.
Orlando, which struggled to get offense from anyone other than Harris and Vucevic all night, shot just 39.5 percent. The Magic starting backcourt of Victor Oladipo and Willie Green combined to shoot 5 for 23, including 1 for 8 from behind the 3-point line.
Los Angeles led 56-48 at halftime, but couldn't pull away from Orlando until Crawford checked in for the final 3 minutes of the third quarter. He hit a 3-pointer, fed Barnes for a fast-break layup and nailed another 3-pointer as the Los Angeles finished the quarter with a 15-8 run for an 84-68 lead.
Hawes and Farmar opened the fourth quarter with back-to-back 3-pointers as the Clippers outscored the Magic 12-3 in first two minutes to push their advantage to 96-72.
Both teams had pulled all their starters at that point.
Los Angeles reserves outscored the Magic bench 24-7 in the first two periods, with Crawford getting 12 points on 4-of-7 shooting.
The Magic frontline of Vucevic, Harris and Frye combined for 39 points on 14 of 24 shooting to keep Orlando within distance at halftime. Vucevic had a double-double by the middle of the second quarter, finishing the half with 15 points and 13 rebounds. Harris had 14 and Frye scored all 10 of his points in the first half.
UP NEXT
Clippers: Head to Miami to play the Heat on Thursday.
Magic: Go back on the road to play at Charlotte on Friday night.
TIP-INS
Clippers: Doc Rivers started his coaching career in Orlando and four members of the Clips played for the Magic, including starters J.J. Redick and Matt Barnes. Glen Davis and Hedo Turkoglu are the others. ... This was just the second game this season outside the Staples Center for Los Angeles.
Magic: Shooting guard Evan Fournier didn't play because of a bruised left heel. He expects to return Friday. . Willie Green replaced Fournier in the Magic lineup. He started nine games last season for the Clippers. The Magic's 41.6 shooting percentage from behind the 3-point line led the NBA at the start of the night, but they were just 8 for 24 from behind the arc against the Clippers.
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