Kings Barely Fall Short To Clippers 100-99
SACRAMENTO, Calif. (AP) -- Eric Gordon tied a career high with six 3-pointers and scored 31 points, leading the Los Angeles Clippers to a 100-99 victory over the Sacramento Kings on Monday night.
Blake Griffin had 24 points and 14 rebounds for the Clippers, who have won three straight on the road after opening the season 0-11. Baron Davis had 11 points and nine assists, and Al-Farouq Aminu also had 11 points.
The Clippers, plagued by injuries this season, have won two straight overall and five of six.
Tyreke Evans scored a season-high 32 points but missed a short shot at the buzzer for the Kings, who have dropped eight straight, 22 of 24 and own the NBA's worst record (5-23).
Omri Casspi had 16 points, Beno Udrih 14, Carl Landry 13 and Francisco Garcia 12 for the Kings.
With the Kings trailing 100-97, Evans was fouled on a 3-point attempt by Ryan Gomes. He made the first two, but the third attempt went in and out. The loose ball eventually wound up in Evans' hands, but he missed in the lane.
On the previous possession, Evans lost the ball on a drive to the basket with the Kings down 98-97. Davis came up with the loose ball and passed to Griffin, who made an easy, uncontested dunk for a three-point lead with 5.1 seconds remaining.
Ike Diogu scored six points and Gordon had five in the first 3 1/2 minutes of the fourth quarter, giving the Clippers an 87-81 lead. Griffin's three-point play at the 5:49 mark put Los Angeles ahead 92-85.
The Kings charged back, as Garcia made a 3-pointer and Evans followed with an emphatic dunk and a 3-pointer, cutting the Clippers' lead to 96-95 with 1:23 left.
Gordon and Evans matched each other offensively in the third quarter. Gordon made two 3-pointers and scored 11 points, while Evans had 10 points and helped the Kings pull even at 76 heading into the fourth period.
Griffin had 12 points and seven rebounds in the opening half, when the Clippers led 58-49. The first-year forward also had four of the Clippers' 12 first-half turnovers. Udrih scored 12 points for the Kings.
Notes: Garcia made only his second start of the season and hit two 3-pointers in the game's first four minutes. The Clippers shot 65 percent in the first half and put four players in double figures. Griffin recorded his 19th straight double-double. The Clippers committed 22 turnovers.
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