Warriors Fall To Clippers, 105-91
LOS ANGELES (AP) -- Eric Gordon scored 25 points, Blake Griffin had 23 points and 12 rebounds, and the Los Angeles Clippers beat the Golden State Warriors 105-91 Sunday for their seventh win in 10 games.
Baron Davis had 17 points and 11 assists for the Clippers, who have roared to life after a 5-21 start to the season. Los Angeles easily beat the Warriors with the inside-outside punch of Griffin and Gordon, who scored 23 points apiece in the first three quarters while claiming an 18-point lead.
Griffin added another superlative to his remarkable rookie season, reaching double figures in points and rebounds for a club-record 23rd consecutive game.
Dorell Wright scored 27 points and hit five 3-pointers for the Warriors, who also had won six of nine after a 3-16 stretch. Monta Ellis, the NBA's third-leading scorer, managed just 13 points on 4 for 19 shooting.
Stephen Curry also struggled, getting eight points on 2 of 13 shooting while missing most of the first half with foul trouble. David Lee had just eight points and four rebounds before fouling out midway through the fourth quarter, and Andris Biedrins went scoreless in 26 minutes before also fouling out of his third game back from a sprained ankle.
While the Warriors slept in, the Clippers played with the reckless, exciting style that's becoming their trademark under first-year coach Vinny Del Negro, starting with Davis' highlight-reel pass to Griffin for a dunk just 64 seconds in. Los Angeles alternates electrifying alley-oop jams and 3-pointers with boneheaded turnovers and defensive mistakes, yet the crowd-pleasing theatrics worked just fine against the Warriors.
Perhaps it's no coincidence Los Angeles has found its footing during a relatively calm stretch of games after a tough early-season schedule. The Clippers had the past three days off, and they've got two more days off before the Miami Heat visit Staples Center on Wednesday.
Golden State struggled in its final road game before a stretch with 13 of its next 14 in Oakland. The Pacific Division rivals will meet again Friday night in Oakland and back at Staples Center on Jan. 22.
Curry barely played in the first half after picking up two quick fouls, but Wright kept the Warriors close with 15 points in the first quarter. Golden State took a brief lead in the second quarter, but the Clippers responded with an 18-4 run capped by Davis' fast-break 3-pointer with 2.5 seconds left, taking a 62-48 lead into halftime.
The Warriors never threatened to make a run in the second half, never trimming the Clippers' lead to single digits.
NOTES: Davis and Warriors F Vladimir Radmanovic exchanged angry words after Radmanovic fouled Davis midway through the second quarter. Teammates and officials eventually broke up their prolonged discussion. ... Clippers C Chris Kaman missed his 15th straight game with a sprained left ankle. The former All-Star hasn't played since Dec. 5, and the club hasn't indicated he's anywhere close to returning.
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