Griffin, Paul Lead Fast-Charging Clippers Past Heat, 110-93
MIAMI (AP) — Chris Paul had 26 points and 12 assists, Blake Griffin added 26 points and the Los Angeles Clippers wasted no time in taking control on the way to a 110-93 win over the Miami Heat on Thursday night.
DeAndre Jordan scored 12 points — on six shots, all dunks — and grabbed 11 rebounds for the Clippers (7-4), who led 39-15 after one quarter.
Chris Bosh scored 28 for Miami (6-6), which has dropped three straight home games for the first time since March 3-8, 2011. Rookie reserve Shabazz Napier had a season-high 17 points.
Dwyane Wade missed his fourth consecutive game with a strained left hamstring. The Heat are 5-3 when Wade plays this season, 1-3 when he doesn't.
The Clippers had 31 assists to Miami's 11; Paul doled out more by himself than all 12 Heat players who logged action did combined.
It was over early. The Clippers had 39 points with 30 seconds left in the first quarter; the Heat didn't cross the 39-point threshold until 30 seconds remained in the second quarter.
Miami held Los Angeles scoreless on the Clippers' first possession, which ordinarily would be in no way notable in an NBA game. Not in this case — considering the Clippers would score each of the next 11 times they had the basketball, running out to a 34-11 lead and never letting Miami make it a game again.
Jamal Crawford had nine assists and J.J. Redick scored 14 points for the Clippers, who shot 56 percent — and that was after the percentage plummeted once coach Doc Rivers emptied his bench for good midway through the fourth quarter.
Mario Chalmers and Luol Deng each scored 13 for Miami.
TIP-INS
Clippers: This marked the 15th time that the Clippers had played at Orlando and at Miami on back-to-back nights — and the first time they won both of those games. ... Here's a balanced first half: The Clippers had seven dunks and seven 3-pointers in the first 24 minutes. ... It was Paul's seventh double-double of the season. ... The Clippers will take a layover in Miami before heading to Memphis this weekend.
Heat: Miami missed its first 11 3-point attempts. ... Udonis Haslem again didn't play for Miami. Danny Granger didn't check in for the first time until late in the third, and Justin Hamilton got his first action of the night late in the fourth. ... Shannon Brown started the second half after Norris Cole dislocated a finger on his left (non-shooting) hand midway through the second quarter. ... It was the 22nd time Bosh scored at least 28 points in a Heat uniform. Miami is 18-4 in those games.
UP NEXT
Clippers: At Memphis on Sunday.
Heat: At Orlando on Saturday.
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