Clippers win 6th in a row, 94-75 at Mavericks

[April 03, 2012]  DALLAS (AP) -- Randy Foye had 28 points with a career-high eight 3-pointers and the Los Angeles Clippers won their sixth consecutive game, 94-75 over the Dallas Mavericks on Monday night for their longest winning streak in two decades.

Blake Griffin had 15 points and 16 rebounds for the Clippers, who last won six in a row in March 1992. Griffin had scored 20 points in each of the previous six games, but still had his 33rd double-double this season.

After Brandan Wright's tip-in capped an 8-0 run for the Mavericks to get within 76-62 with about 7 1/2 minutes left, Foye responded with a 3-pointer. Jason Terry then made another basket for Dallas, only to have Foy make another 3, his eighth to match the franchise record.

Foye was 10-of-19 shooting, including 8 of 15 on 3s.

Quentin Richardson made 8 of 11 3-pointers while scoring 36 points for the Clippers at Boston on Feb. 4, 2004.

Caron Butler, part of the Mavericks' championship team last season, had 13 points for the Clippers, who had lost 10 consecutive games in Dallas since 2006. Nick Young had 10 points.

Dirk Nowitzki led the Mavericks with 19 points, while Jason Terry had 15.

Los Angeles entered the game fourth in the Western Conference, just ahead of the defending NBA champions.

Had the playoffs been starting, it would have been a first-round game -- in Los Angeles. Good thing for the Mavericks there are still more than three weeks left in the regular season.

The Mavs, who lost two of three in the regular season against the Clippers, slipped to sixth place in the Western Conference. They are a half-game behind Memphis, who they play twice in their next three games, including Wednesday night at home.

Dallas was without veteran guard Jason Kidd (strained right groin) and forward Lamar Odom (stomach illness). Kidd isn't expected to play this week, meaning he could miss his third four-game stretch this season.

As usual, Griffin had some highlight dunks. He punctuated his night with a high-flying gem in the closing minutes.

Griffin's first dunk came 5 minutes into the game, when Butler had a steal and pass to Griffin for a breakaway slam. Griffin made the shot even as Delonte West, filling in as the starter for Kidd, reached over and slapped down on his head.

A couple of minutes later, after a turnover by Foye, Nowitzki had a finger-roll layup to tie the game at 11.

The Clippers then went ahead to stay on a tip-in by DeAndre Jordan and Butler's short bank shot. A 3-pointer by Foye stretched the lead to 25-15 with less than 2 minutes left in the first quarter.

Young's only points before a late 3-pointer had been seven in a row in a 75-second span midway through the second quarter for a 35-23 Clippers lead.

Dallas had only 33 points at halftime, its second-lowest scoring first half of the season.

Things got no better to start the second half.

Vince Carter drove for what he thought was a layup, but he was called for charging against Griffin. While Carter ran down the court in disbelief, replays showed that Griffin appeared to have his feet set.

Butler then hit a 3-pointer over Carter, and Foye drove for a layup high off the glass to push the lead to 52-35.

NOTES: The Clippers left the floor at halftime with a 49-33 lead, but officials reviewed an earlier basket by Kenyon Martin that they determined came after the shot clock ran out. So the halftime score was really 47-33. ... Los Angeles' six-game winning streak 20 years ago began with a win at Dallas. ... The Mavericks scored 29 points in the first half at San Antonio on Jan. 5, their eighth game of the season.

[Associated Press; By STEPHEN HAWKINS]

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