Clippers Bounce Back With 112-95 Win Over Bulls
CHICAGO (AP) -- Blake Griffin had 26 points and 13 rebounds to lead the Los Angeles Clippers to a 112-95 victory over the Chicago Bulls on Friday night.
Jamal Crawford added 19 points for the Clippers, who had six players score in double figures and shot 54 percent from the field -- including 13 for 21 on 3-pointers. DeAndre Jordan added 10 points and 12 rebounds.
Carlos Boozer scored 22 points for the Bulls, who snapped a three-game winning streak.
The Clippers, playing without injured All-Star Chris Paul, have won four straight against the Bulls, and improved to 3-2 on their seven-game trip.
The Bulls cut the lead to eight in the third quarter but Darren Collison answered with two quick baskets and the Clippers led 92-80 heading to the fourth.
Los Angeles shot 10 for 14 on 3s and finished 64.1 percent overall from the field in the first half to take a 68-55 lead at the break.
Jordan's dunk gave the Clippers a 60-39 lead, their largest margin, with 3:52 left before halftime.
The Clippers were 7 for 8 from beyond the arc in the first quarter to set a franchise record for 3s in a quarter. The Clippers led 41-26 after shooting 73.7 percent in the period.
In the teams' previous meeting, the Clippers routed the Bulls 121-82 on Nov. 24 for their worst loss of the season in the first game after Derrick Rose suffered a season-ending knee injury.
The Clippers were averaging 105.4 points, fifth in the league. The Bulls were one of the NBA's top defensive teams, holding opponents to 92.5 points per game before Friday.
J.J. Redick scored 18 points and shot 4 for 7 from 3-point range. Collison, playing despite a sprained toe, had 17 points.
Boozer, back from a one-game absence due to a sore left calf, scored 16 points in the first quarter. Taj Gibson added 18 points off the bench, Mike Dunleavy had 17 and Joakim Noah 12 as the Bulls shot 43 percent from the field and 6 for 19 from 3-point range.
The Bulls were without Kirk Hinrich, who missed his second consecutive game with a strained right hamstring.
NOTES: Clippers coach Doc Rivers said the Bulls shouldn't let coach Tom Thibodeau get away. Thibodeau was on Rivers' coaching staff from 2007-10 with the Boston Celtics. "I think it would be nuts not to have him here," Rivers said. "He's the best coach, one of the best coaches, in the league, so if you have that, that's an asset. And I don't think any right-minded organization would allow that asset to leave. Because with all this adversity they've had with injuries, if you allow that one to leave, things will fall apart -- and that would be pretty much a guarantee." Thibodeau declined to address rumors about his future. ... Hinrich will possibly miss the Bulls' trip to Charlotte on Saturday as he continues to receive treatment, Thibodeau said. ... Thibodeau said it would be a great experience for Rose to play for Team USA if he is healthy. Rose was one of 28 players named to the 2014-16 national team pool. The FIBA Basketball World Cup will be Aug. 30-Sept. 14 in Spain. Rose is out for the NBA season after undergoing knee surgery on Nov. 25. ... Thibodeau picked up a technical foul with the Bulls trailing 86-74 with 2:10 left in the third quarter.
AP-WF-01-25-14 0351GMT
