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 Forward Kenneth Faried scored 21 points and grabbed 11 rebounds in
three quarters, and the Nuggets ended a three-game skid with an
87-81 victory over the Clippers on Wednesday night at Staples
Center.
Guard Gary Harris had 17 points for the Nuggets, who ended a
four-game losing streak to the Clippers. Nuggets forward Danilo
Gallinari added 16 points and eight rebounds.
Denver prevailed despite Malone sitting Faried the entire fourth
quarter.
"Obviously, down the stretch, they were playing so small, it was
tough to get him back in," Malone said. "But Kenneth, I thought, was
a huge contributor in the paint, finishing around the basket and
putting a lot of pressure on them."
Faried took the benching in stride.
"We won. That's all that matters. I'm happy. We got the monkey off
our back," said Faried, who made 10 of 15 shots from the floor and
collected six offensive rebounds in 23 minutes.
The Nuggets survived despite making only five of 17 shots (29.4
percent) in the final quarter. However, the Clippers hit just seven
of 22 shots (31.8 percent) in the fourth and missed some crucial
baskets late.
Guards Jamal Crawford and J.J. Redick scored 20 points apiece for
the Clippers, who had beaten Denver in the previous six meetings at
Staples. Point guard Chris Paul had 17 points, 10 assists and six
rebounds. No other Clipper reached double figures.
"It was a tough loss," said Paul, who missed four of five shots in
the fourth and was ailing after taking an elbow to his forearm in
the quarter. "You have to give them a lot of credit for playing
hard, but at the same time, we have to win games like this."
The Clippers (37-20) launched 46 3-point attempts, making 13 (28.5
percent) and hitting just 30 of 85 field-goal attempts overall (35.3
percent). Denver wasn't much better, shooting 37.8 percent (34 of
90) from the floor and six of 24 from 3-point range (25 percent).
The Nuggets (23-35) held a 71-62 lead at the start of the fourth.
They increased the margin to 12 points before the Clippers rallied.
Paul pulled Los Angeles within 80-75 with a 3-point bucket with 4:15
left in the contest. After the Nuggets turned the ball over with a
24-second clock violation, Redick nailed another trey to slice the
lead to 80-78 with 3:37 remaining.
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The teams exchanged baskets before a 3-pointer by Harris gave Denver
an 85-80 advantage with 1:58 remaining. A free throw by center
DeAndre Jordan got Los Angeles within four, but the Clippers failed
to get any closer after forward Jeff Green was called for an
offensive foul with 30.4 seconds left.
Two foul shots by point guard Emmanuel Mudiay capped the scoring
with 25.5 seconds remaining.
"You're going to have games throughout the season where you come out
flat," said Redick, who was six of 12 on treys. "Whether it is
energy (or) focus, those games happen."
Denver wiped out an 11-2 deficit and outscored Los Angeles 21-8 for
a 23-19 after one period. Paul (10) and Redick (nine) accounted for
all of the Clippers' points.
The Nuggets continued to control the contest in the second quarter,
taking a 53-39 lead at the break after closing the half on a 14-0
run in the final 2:41. Faried had 17 points in the first half.
Faried was a major reason the Nuggets posted a 44-22 edge on points
in the paint. The Nuggets also outrebounded the Clippers 57-47
overall and 14-9 on offensive rebounds.
"We were able to get to the basket, and we finished around the
basket," Faried said. "We've been preaching that all year."
NOTES: Clippers coach Doc Rivers marveled at the recent play and
work ethic of 35-year-old G Jamal Crawford. Since Dec. 25, Crawford
was averaging 16.7 points per game before Wednesday's game, second
best among NBA reserves. "He breaks all of the new rules, like guys
in the summer lift (weights) now and run and do all of the
strength-coach stuff, and don't play basketball," Rivers said.
"Jamal does no lifting -- I don't think he has a muscle in his body
-- but he plays pickup every day, all summer. There's something to
be said with the old-school way of doing things." ... The clubs meet
for the final time this season on March 27 at Staples Center. ...
Both teams resume play on the road Friday. Denver meets the Dallas
Mavericks. Los Angeles faces the Sacramento Kings.
[© 2016 Thomson Reuters. All rights
reserved.]
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