Paul, Redick Lead Clippers To 101-94 Win Over Knicks
LOS ANGELES (AP) — Chris Paul had 24 points and 15 assists and J.J. Redick added 20 points, leading the Los Angeles Clippers to a 101-94 victory over the New York Knicks on Friday night.
All of the Clippers' starters scored in double digits to help fuel their eighth straight victory over the Knicks. DeAndre Jordan had 19 rebounds along with 10 points.
Los Angeles, coming off a 120-108 defeat at Oklahoma City on Wednesday, hasn't lost consecutive games since a three-game skid Dec. 18-21.
Kristaps Porzingis led the Knicks with 23 points in 31 minutes after getting into early foul trouble. Carmelo Anthony and Robin Lopez each had 20.
The Knicks, who were coming off a 129-97 rout at Phoenix, were missing Arron Afflalo for the second straight game because of a strained abdominal muscle.
New York is 4-9 since Derek Fisher was fired and replaced as head coach by Kurt Rambis. The Knicks are 5-18 since Jan. 22, a nosedive that began with their home loss to the Clippers.
Sasha Vujacic, no stranger to Staples Center after playing his first six-plus NBA seasons with the Lakers and another with the Clippers, made his second straight start at shooting guard and had nine points.
Porzingis spent the final 9:22 of the second quarter on the bench after picking up his third foul with the Knicks trailing 32-27. The 7-foot-3 forward was back on the floor at the start of the second half, and made a reverse layup that cut the Knicks' deficit to 76-71 after they had trailed by as many as 15.
The Clippers, who squandered a 17-point lead in a loss to Atlanta the last time they played at home on March 5, were caught at 84-all on a 21-footer by Vujacic with 6:27 to play. But the Knicks weren't able to pull ahead, as Porzingis missed a few easy ones down the stretch and Paul and Redick each hit clutch 3-pointers in the final 2:42.
Paul made his first seven shots — three from 3-point range — and finished the first half with 17 as the Clippers built a 61-50 halftime lead and shot 51.2 percent. Jeff Green added 15, helping offset 16 points each by Anthony and Lopez.
TIP-INS:
Knicks: Anthony has played in 890 regular-season NBA games, the 28-most among active players — but the most in that group who have never been used in a reserve role. LeBron James came off the bench once in 973 games, and Tim Duncan twice in 1,379 games. ... This is the first time the Knicks are playing the Clippers and Lakers in consecutive games on the same road trip since the Clippers relocated from San Diego to Los Angeles for the 1984-85 season. ... The Knicks are 2-14 against the Clippers at Staples Center since the arena opened in October 1999. ... The Knicks converted 14 Clippers turnovers into 116 points. New York came in averaging a league-worst 11.9 points off turnovers. . The Knicks, who came in with a league-best 81.0 free throw percentage, were 22 for 25 from the line.
Clippers: The Clippers were assessed a rare technical foul for having fewer than five players on the court after the second quarter began. Anthony converted the free throw. ... Backup C Cole Aldrich had two points and six rebounds in 23 minutes before fouling out with 7:26 left in and the Clippers ahead 84-80. ... Clippers coach Doc Rivers used his 17th different starting lineup, with Green at small forward and Wesley Johnson as the power forward. Luc Mbah a Moute missed his fifth game due to a cut on his left eyelid, and Paul Pierce did not play because of soreness in the big toe on his right foot. ... The Clippers are 25-9 since losing Blake Griffin because of a partially torn left quad tendon in a game against the Lakers on Christmas.
UP NEXT
Knicks: At Los Angeles Lakers on Sunday.
Clippers: Host Cleveland on Sunday.
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