|
 Forward Blake Griffin scored 18 points, and center DeAndre Jordan
added 16 points and 15 rebounds, and the Clippers hammered the
Pistons 113-91 Monday night at Staples Center.
"After losing two games in a row, it feels like we lost 10 in a
row," said Jordan, who hit seven of nine shots, most of them
rim-rattling dunks. Eight of Jordan's rebounds came on the offensive
end. "Coming back home and being able to win a basketball game and
close a team out is always a really good feeling."
Defense, particularly in the second and third quarters, helped the
Clippers close the door on the Pistons, who lost their eighth
straight and their 10th in the past 11 meetings with Los Angeles.
"We just started getting stops," said Clippers guard J.J. Redick,
who finished with 14 points on 7-of-9 shooting in only 19 minutes.
"Our defense was great in that second quarter. Our bench gave us a
great lift in the first half, got us back in the game, and then took
the lead, so a big credit to them.
 "In the third quarter, we just got stops. They were stuck on 53 for
a while, it seemed like, and we were just able to get some stops."
Los Angeles outscored Detroit 57-36 in the middle two quarters
combined.
Clippers reserve guard Jordan Farmar finished with 15 points and
five assists, and point guard Chris Paul finished with 11 points and
eight assists. Los Angeles (17-7) had six players score in double
figures.
The Pistons (5-20) had their two-game winning streak end.
Reserve guard Jodie Meeks scored 20 points to lead Detroit. Center
Andre Drummond finished with 18 points and 13 rebounds. Center Greg
Monroe came off the bench to score 15 points and pull down eight
rebounds, but he committed five turnovers in 20 minutes.
"We quit getting stops, so we could not run," Detroit coach Stan Van
Gundy said. "I thought the pace was fine, but we just did not get
any stops after (the first quarter). They shot the ball very well,
moved the ball very well, and we could not keep up. They shot the
three well. They totally tore out defense apart."
Griffin, who also had seven rebounds and seven assists in three
quarters, passed Danny Manning for fifth on the franchise's all-time
scoring list with a 3-pointer with 27.8 seconds remaining in the
third quarter. Griffin has 7,122 career points.
[to top of second column] |
"That says a lot," Clippers coach Doc Rivers said. "It says that
Blake is a great player, number one. It's amazing he's fifth at 25.
And he missed one year. When you think about that, that's
remarkable."
After trailing by nine in the first quarter, the Clippers seized
control in the second period. Jordan scored 10 of his 13 first-half
points in the quarter, helping Los Angeles grab a 55-44 lead at the
half.
A four-point play by forward Matt Barnes, plus a jumper and then a
3-pointer both by Paul triggered a 13-0 run for a 79-53 cushion with
about three minutes remaining in the third quarter. Detroit never
cut the margin below double digits the rest of the way.
"You have to give them credit, they played well," said Meeks, who
hit five of 10 shots, including three of five from 3-point range.
The Clippers connected on 53.8 percent (43 of 80) of their shots
from the floor compared to 42.2 percent (35 of 83) for the Pistons.
Los Angeles converted 12 of 24 3-point attempts, while Detroit hit
just eight of 27 (29.6 percent).
NOTES: Pistons coach Stan Van Gundy said he would continue to bring
former starter F/C Greg Monroe off the bench. Van Gundy believes
pairing the 6-11 Monroe, who has been the subject of trade rumors,
with 6-9 F Josh Smith and 6-11 C Andre Drummond on the front line
makes his team vulnerable to clubs playing an up-tempo pace. "We
were having trouble with that bigger lineup getting back in
transition against people," Van Gundy said. "That's the main reason
when we haven't started that lineup. We started them against Phoenix
(on Friday) and they were just running up and down the floor." ...
Former Lakers G Jodie Meeks played his first game at Staples Center
since signing with Detroit as a free agent during the offseason. ...
Clippers F/C Spencer Hawes missed the contest due to a left knee
bruise.
[© 2014 Thomson Reuters. All rights
reserved.]
Copyright 2014 Reuters. All rights reserved. This material may not be published,
broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.
 |
