Clippers Ride Big 1st Half To 123-84 Blowout Win Over Nets
LOS ANGELES (AP) -- LOS ANGELES (AP) -- Blake Griffin scored 22 of his 24 points in the first half, when the Clippers led by 33 points, and Los Angeles went on to its largest victory ever over the Brooklyn Nets, 123-84 Thursday night.
J.J. Redick and Jamal Crawford added 17 points each, DeAndre Jordan had 14 points and 12 rebounds, and Chris Paul had a season-high 17 assists for the Clippers, who have won nine of their last 12 and three in a row.
With Kevin Garnett resting, the Nets were led by Mason Plumlee with 16 points. Darius Morris and Jerome Jordan had 11 points each, and Jordan had 11 rebounds. They have lost nine of 11.
The Clippers put the game away in the first half, when they shot 66 percent and Jordan had already secured his double-double. They were especially dominant in the second quarter, outscoring Brooklyn 36-14.
Los Angeles' reserves continued the offensive momentum from late in the first quarter, when the Clippers used a 19-4 run to go up 34-21. Led by Crawford, the second unit overwhelmed the Nets 14-4 to extend the lead to 48-27. Crawford scored nine points, including six straight, to start them off.
Griffin, Jordan and Paul returned halfway through the second quarter and put on a show. Jordan had back-to-back dunks, powering over Brook Lopez on the second one, while Paul hit a 3-pointer. Griffin scored their final six points, hitting a 22-footer, to give the Clippers a 70-37 lead at the break.
They didn't let up in the third, either.
Redick scored 11 points in the Clippers' 19-6 run to open the quarter, giving them an 89-44 lead -- their largest of the game. Redick hit all three of his 3-pointers in the spurt, punctuated by consecutive dunks from Jordan and Griffin.
Jordan, Redick and Paul joined Griffin on the bench for the last five minutes, with Los Angeles ahead 97-56 going into the fourth.
The Nets shot 37 percent, and got outscored 56-48 in the paint.
Joe Johnson, who averages a leading 15.9 points for the Nets, was held to nine. Second-leading scorer Jarrett Jack had seven points, just under his 11.5 average.
TIP-INS
Nets: Garnett sat out to rest after the 38-year-old forward had played in three straight games. ... Reserve F Mirza Teletovic was taken to a hospital at halftime after complaining of shortness of breath. He was scoreless in seven minutes in the first half. ... The Nets have not beaten the Clippers on the road since Nov. 15, 2010. ... Nets co-owner Jay-Z and Beyonce attended.
Clippers: Griffin was named a West starter for the fourth time in his fifth All-Star game, while Paul was left off although he could still be chosen as a reserve. "It would be a shock if he wasn't," coach Doc Rivers said. ... Their previous largest win over the Nets was by 33 points on Nov. 22, 1995. ... New San Diego Padres outfielder Matt Kemp attended, as did Floyd Mayweather.
UP NEXT:
Nets: At Utah on Saturday.
Clippers: At Phoenix on Sunday.
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