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 Chris Paul scored 21 points while Jamal Crawford and J.J. Redick
each had 20, leading the Clippers to an easy 107-93 victory over the
Orlando Magic on Friday night at the Amway Center.
The Clippers (33-17) led from start to finish, upping their record
to 16-4 since Griffin left the lineup, first with strained quadricep
tendon and then with a broken right hand. He may be one of the NBA's
best, but Griffin's absence has hardly been felt. They were 17-13
with him playing this season.
"There is a sense of urgency," Paul said. "We're focused and
everyone knows we have to stay that way. It's all about the wins and
losses right now."
Paul, Crawford and Redick all scored above their season averages as
the Clippers won for the fifth time in the last six games. The Magic
(21-28) continued their downward slide, losing 15 of their last 17
games.
Center DeAndre Jordan had 12 points and a game-high 18 rebounds.
Paul Pierce had 12 points. Reserve Lance Stephenson had 13 points in
19 minutes, making all six of his shots and providing a second-half
spark.
"We're so deep on the bench that we can get things done," said
Stephenson, who was averaging just 4.5 points. "We have a lot of
guys who can play. Anywhere they put me on the floor, I can help
this team. I feel like there is nobody in this league that can guard
me."
Victor Oladipo led the Magic with 18 points. Reserve Evan Fournier
had 16 points and six rebounds. Nikola Vucevic had 13 points and a
team-high nine rebounds.
Tobias Harris had 13 points and eight rebounds before leaving early
in the fourth quarter when he was hit in the face by Oladipo. Harris
went to the locker room with a cut bleeding above his left eye and
never returned.
The Magic made only four of 20 shots (20 percent) from 3-point
range. They made only 34 of 81 shots (42 percent) from the field.
They Clippers had a much easier time offensively, shooting 54
percent from the field (40 of 74). They made 22 turnovers but the
Magic never capitalized on their mistakes.
"Our whole mantra this season has been that the defense has to carry
us, and we've lost that side of the ball," Magic coach Scott Skiles
said. "We're allowing people to attack us and get all the way to the
rim. We're not protecting the rim."
The Clippers were coming off a disappointing loss at home Wednesday
and looked determined to start this four-game East Coast trip on a
positive note.
"You could see we made a concerted effort to get off to a good start
tonight," Clippers coach Doc Rivers said. "Our starters were great
tonight."
The Clippers have averaged 107.5 points in Griffin's absence,
compared to just 102.1 points when he played. Crawford has averaged
20.6 points in his last five games. Stevenson has made 19 of 23
shots in the last five games. Things are clicking for the reserves.
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The Magic never got closer than four points in the fourth quarter.
After Oladipo cut the deficit to 79-75, Stephenson responded with a
3-point play and the Magic never serious challenged again.
The Magic did cut the deficit to two points late in the third period
on a 3-pointer by reserve Mario Hezonja. But Stephenson Lance
Stephenson scored at the buzzer for the 77-73 lead going into the
fourth.
"If we don't pick up defensively, we're not going to win very much,"
Oladipo said. "We've just got to realize that's what wins games. It
seems like when our offensive isn't going, then our defense stops
working. We've got to get back our defense."
The Clippers had 14 turnovers in the first half, but they still led
by as many 16 points in the second quarter. They led, 55-44, at
intermission. Redick scored his team's first six points and had 14
by halftime, including a trio of 3-pointers.
The Clippers shot well early, too, making 20 of 34 shots (58.8
percent), while the Magic made just 18 of 48 (37.5 percent). Redick
opened the scoring with a 3-pointer. Jordan had11 rebounds and eight
points before halftime.
Fournier had 12 points in the first half, including the last five of
the second quarter.
NOTES: The Clippers are still awaiting word on an NBA suspension for
PF Blake Griffin, who broke his right hand last month when he
punched the team's assistant equipment manager. Griffin already was
on the sideline with a strained quadriceps tendon. ... Longtime NBA
columnist Mitch Lawrence is reporting that the Clippers are talking
with Denver about a possible trade of Griffin, but coach Doc Rivers
scoffed at the mention before the game. "Blake's ours, and he's
going to stay ours." ... Clippers reserve G Austin Rivers sat out
with a bad contusion on his left hand, sustained in the loss to
Minnesota on Wednesday. Rivers played his high school basketball in
Central Florida and had plenty of friends at the game. ... Magic
reserve C Dewayne Dedmon returned to action after missing
Wednesday's game with a sprained left foot.
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