Clippers Win 10th Straight, Beat Heat, 104-90, Without Jordan

Jordan was sidelined because of pneumonia, ending the NBA's longest active consecutive games played streak at 360.

The eight-year veteran, who led the league in rebounding the past two seasons, had the second-longest streak in franchise history behind Randy Smith's 595 straight games with the Buffalo Braves.

Chris Paul had 15 points and 12 assists for Los Angeles. Aldrich, a five-year veteran making his first start in 17 games with the Clippers, made seven of 14 shots while playing a season-high 24 minutes.

The winning streak is the Clippers' third of 10 or more games during the past four seasons. They also had an 11-game run in 2013-14 and won a franchise-record 17 straight in 2012-13 — going 16-0 in December.

Miami (22-17) is the only team the Clippers have faced during their streak that currently has a record of .500 or better.

Reserve guard Gerald Green led the Heat with 19 points and Dwyane Wade added 16 points and eight assists. Miami's third straight loss equaled its longest skid of the season and kept the Heat a game behind first-place Atlanta in the Southeast Division.

Hassan Whiteside, who had 23 points and 16 rebounds against the Clippers the last time the Heat faced them, came off the bench for the first time this season and had 10 points and 11 boards after sitting out Monday's loss at Golden State because of pain in his right knee.

Miami point guard Goran Dragic was sent home from the team's road trip to get an MRI on his lingering left calf strain and is expected to miss at least three games.

Paul Pierce hit a pair of 3-pointers to help the Clippers end the first half on a 14-5 run and slice a 16-point deficit to 52-45. They opened the third quarter with 13 unanswered points and extended that run to 24-5 for a 69-57 lead with 6:11 left in the period.

Miami got as close as 74-68 on two free throws by Whiteside with 2:32 left in the third, but the Clippers' bench controlled the fourth quarter and built the margin to 94-75 on Jamal Crawford's 3-pointer with 5:46 to play.

Jordan missed a game for the first time since March 23, 2001. On that occasion, the Clippers beat Washington 127-119 in double overtime at Los Angeles after Jordan was diagnosed with a mild case of pneumonia.

Los Angeles is 9-0 since leading scorer Blake Griffin went down with a partially torn tendon in his left quad. Overall, the Clippers are 21-8 when the five-time All-Star has sat out due to injury or suspension — including a 9-6 mark last season.

TIP-INS

Heat: Miami committed a season-high 24 turnovers, compared to eight for the Clippers. . Wade, who turns 34 on Sunday, has not recorded a double-double in his last 71 games since Jan. 11, 2015, when he had 17 points and 10 assists against the Clippers. . No player on the team has had a double-digit assist game this season. . Chris Bosh, whose career-best streak of 13 straight games with a 3-point basket ended in Monday's loss at Golden State (0 for 5), was 0 for 4 from behind the arc against the Clippers and finished with 11 points and 12 rebounds.

Clippers: Now that Jordan's streak is over, Cleveland F Tristan Thompson has the NBA's longest active consecutive games streak at 324. . All 18 of Aldrich's previous starts in the NBA came with the New York Knicks. . Paul has been on the winning side in 10 of his 16 career head-to-head matchups against Wade. . Reserve guard Pablo Prigioni had a career-high eight steals, one shy of the franchise record held by coach Doc Rivers. . Crawford scored 15 points on 4-for-15 shooting. He set career highs with 52 points, 20 field goals and eight 3-pointers against Miami on Jan. 26, 2007, while playing for the Knicks. . The Clippers are 17-2 when allowing fewer than 100 points.

UP NEXT

Heat: At Denver on Friday.

Clippers: Host Sacramento on Saturday.

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