Griffin, Paul Lead Clippers In Rout Of Lakers, 120-97
LOS ANGELES (AP) — Blake Griffin and Chris Paul scored 23 points apiece, and the Los Angeles Clippers hung another rout on the Lakers, winning 120-97 Sunday to take three of four games this season from their beleaguered Staples Center co-tenants.
It wasn't quite the blowout of the Clippers' previous two wins — 48 points on March 6 and 36 points on Jan. 10 — but they were easily in command as the designated home team.
J.J. Redick added 15 points and DeAndre Jordan had 11 points and 12 rebounds for the Pacific Division-winning Clippers, who improved to 32-6 at home.
The injury-plagued Lakers were down to just eight players after guard Kent Bazemore got hurt in the second quarter. Jordan Hill led them with 22 points and Nick Young added 18 points off the bench, where there were plenty of empty seats. Jodie Meeks had 17 points.
The Lakers' lone win in the series, a 116-103 victory on opening night, came well before they lost Kobe Bryant and their season rapidly went downhill as the Clippers surged under new coach Doc Rivers.
The Lakers lost their fourth in a row overall, seventh straight on the road, and 10th in 13 games for their 52nd defeat of the season.
Having built a 22-point lead, the Clippers' starters rested in the fourth, having already had two days off since their previous game.
The Clippers reeled off eight straight points to open the third, including four by Griffin, for a 65-49 lead. Jordan dunked back-to-back, Paul made two 3-pointers, and Griffin hit 3 of 4 free throws, extending the lead to 84-65.
It grew bigger with a 10-3 spurt that sent the Clippers into the fourth leading 94-72.
The Clippers shot 62 percent and outscored the Lakers 37-23 in the third.
Young scored the first five points of the second quarter, giving the Lakers a two-point lead, their first of the game. They kept it close over the next 4 ½ minutes before the Clippers used a 19-12 run to lead 57-49 at halftime. Griffin had eight points and Paul six in the team's first extended offensive burst of the game.
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