|
 Jamal Crawford came off the bench to score 19 points and record
six assists, and J.J. Redick added 18 points for the Clippers
(48-28), who defeated the Wizards for the eighth consecutive time.
DeAndre Jordan chipped in 12 points and 12 rebounds for Los Angeles.
Griffin returned after missing 45 games due to a partially torn quad
tendon, a broken hand and a four-game suspension for slugging an
equipment manager. Griffin finished with six points on 2-of-7
shooting, five rebounds and four assists in 24 minutes.
"I don't even know the box score or the stuff like that, but
immediately with (Griffin) coming back, it is not going to be about
numbers," Paul said. "I think it is a comfort level for us
defensively. I think that play when he got the lob was because he
got a defensive stop before. It is just a confidence with him on the
court that he brings to all of us."
Griffin, though, admitted he needs plenty of playing time to return
to form.
 "I was definitely frustrated with myself, even though I know I am
not 100 percent right now," Griffin said. "It is going to be a
trying process, but I am definitely used to that."
Marcin Gortat had 21 points and seven rebounds, Markieff Morris
collected 18 points and eight rebounds and John Wall contributed 15
points and 13 assists for the Wizards (37-40), who fell 3 1/2 games
back of the Indiana Pacers for the final playoff spot in the Eastern
Conference with five games remaining. Washington guard Ramon
Sessions had 13 points and six assists.
A 3-pointer by Otto Porter Jr., who scored 14 points, pulled
Washington within 108-104 with 1:15 left in the contest. After an
alley-oop dunk by Jordan on a pass from Crawford with 57.7 seconds
remaining gave the Clippers a six-point edge, Wall sliced it to
three by converting a 3-pointer 10 seconds later.
However, Paul nailed a trey with 22.9 seconds remaining to put Los
Angeles up 113-107. Washington turned the ball over on the following
possession.
A slow start by the Wizards and foul trouble for Wall less than four
minutes into the game forced them into an early hole they had
difficulty overcoming.
"Making shots and taking me out of the game early on kind of
dictated the game early," said Wall, who also picked up a technical
from official Rodney Mott while he was on the bench in the first
quarter. "You know what I got a tech for? I said 'Rodney, wake up.'
So if that's what you're getting techs for nowadays, then I guess
you can't say nothing at all."
[to top of second column] |
The Wizards made a statement in the second half, wiping out an
11-point halftime deficit with a 10-0 run to open the third quarter
and cutting the deficit to 60-59 after a free throw by Gortat at
8:19. However, a 3-pointer by Redick, a jumper by Paul and a
three-point play by Jordan helped launch a 13-2 surge to push the
advantage to 73-61 less than three minutes later.
Los Angeles took an 84-73 lead into the fourth quarter.
Wall believes the Wizards still have a shot at earning a postseason
berth.
"We knew it was going to be tough to come in here and get a win, and
it's frustrating that some early fouls took me out of my rhythm
early and forced me to get less aggressive to avoid another foul,"
Wall said. "After the first quarter, it was pretty much an even
game."
NOTES: Despite missing more than three months due to injury and
suspension, Los Angeles F Blake Griffin will sit out one of the
team's remaining six games. Coach Doc Rivers hasn't decided which
game. ... Rivers added that he might rest PG Chris Paul, SG J.J.
Redick and C DeAndre Jordan again for one of those contests as the
team prepares for the playoffs. Rivers held out the trio in the
Clippers' previous contest against the Oklahoma City Thunder. ...
Clippers F Paul Pierce, who spent last season with the Wizards,
missed his third straight game with a right ankle sprain/right knee
contusion. ... Wizards F/G Alan Anderson sat out his eighth game
with a strained groin. ... The Clippers will be the home team when
they play the Lakers on Tuesday at Staples Center. The Wizards host
the Brooklyn Nets on Wednesday.
[© 2016 Thomson Reuters. All rights
reserved.]
Copyright 2016 Reuters. All rights reserved. This material may not be published,
broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.
 |
