Griffin Scores 30 In Clippers' 117-108 Win Over Kings
SACRAMENTO, Calif. (AP) -- Blake Griffin scored 18 of his 30 points in the second half, Matt Barnes had 26 points and the Los Angeles Clippers pulled away in the third quarter to beat the Sacramento Kings 117-108 on Saturday night.
Chris Paul added 12 points and nine assists, J.J. Redick had 18 points and Jamal Crawford scored 13 off the bench for the Clippers, who bounced back from a sluggish first half to win for the fourth straight time at Sleep Train Arena.
Griffin had 13 points in the third quarter and then scored five over the final 3 1/2 minutes of the game to help Los Angeles to its fourth win in six games.
Jason Thompson had 23 points and a career-high 22 rebounds for the Kings, who have dropped three straight. Sacramento played without leading scorer and rebounder DeMarcus Cousins.
Both teams were playing the tail end of back-to-backs and it showed, especially early on.
Griffin got the Clippers going in the third quarter when he repeatedly got inside and to the free throw line. With Cousins out and backup Ryan Hollins in foul trouble, the Kings couldn't keep up.
Los Angeles went on an 11-0 run to go up 75-64 midway through the third. Paul, limited to two points in the first half, scored four and lobbed a pass to Griffin for a dunk.
Sacramento cut the gap to 86-79 early in the fourth quarter but couldn't get any closer.
Rudy Gay, who sat out Friday's loss to Miami after injuring his left knee capsule on Tuesday, had 22 points off the bench for the Kings. He was listed as questionable before the game and did not start, checking in with just more than 2 1/2 minutes remaining in the first quarter.
Barnes had 22 points on 9-of-12 shooting in the first half, but Gay made a pair of 3-pointers over the final 70 seconds of the second quarter to tie the game at 52.
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TIP-INS
Clippers: Paul had five early assists but didn't score until there was 2:21 left in the second quarter. ... Austin Rivers, son of coach Doc Rivers, scored one point after being held scoreless in his Clippers debut. ... Barnes made more 3-pointers in the first half (four) than the Kings' entire team (three).
Kings: Cousins is nursing a right ankle sprain sustained in Friday's loss to Miami. ... Sacramento plays six of its next seven on the road. ... The Kings signed F Quincy Miller to a 10-day contract. ... Omri Casspi left in the first half with a right eye injury and did not return.
UP NEXT
Clippers: Host Boston on Monday.
Kings: At Portland on Monday.