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Clippers 114, Lakers 89
Jeff Hawkins is an award-winning sportswriter with more than four decades in the industry (print and digital media). A freelance writer/stay-at-home dad since 2008, Hawkins started his career with newspaper stints in Michigan, North Carolina, Florida, Upstate New York and Illinois, where he earned the 2004 APSE first-place award for column writing (under 40,000 circulation). As a beat writer, he covered NASCAR Winston Cup events at NHIS (1999-2003), the NHL's Chicago Blackhawks (2003-06) and the NFL's Carolina Panthers (2011-12). Hawkins penned four youth sports books, including a Michael Jordan biography. Hawkins' main hobbies include mountain bike riding, 5k trail runs at the Whitewater Center in Charlotte, N.C., and live music.
All posts by Jeff HawkinsUpdated15 Oct 2021
LOS ANGELES — Forward Blake Griffin scored 27 points, grabbed nine rebounds and handed out eight assists, leading the Los Angeles Clippers to a 114-89 rout of the Los Angeles Lakers on Wednesday night at Staples Center.
Point guard Chris Paul added 24 points and 11 assists for the Clippers (24-12).
Forward Matt Barnes had 19 points, and center DeAndre Jordan finished with 10 points, 13 rebounds and three blocks as the Clippers beat the Lakers for the fifth consecutive time and captured their fifth win in six outings.
None of the Clippers’ starters played in the fourth quarter.
Guard Jordan Clarkson scored 14 points, and center Jordan Hill and guard Wayne Ellington added 13 points apiece for the Lakers (11-25), who lost for the third time in four games and the sixth time in eight.
Lakes forward Kobe Bryant, who failed to score in the first half, managed just four points, missing 10 of 12 shots and all three of his 3-point attempts. Bryant managed eight rebounds and seven assists, but he committed six turnovers in 28 minutes.
The Clippers, who led by as many as 43 points, never trailed. They held a 34-24 advantage after one quarter and increased the margin significantly by halftime.
After Clarkson scored on a drive to pull the Lakers within 41-37, Redick’s four-point play with 6:59 left initiated a 29-11 run. The surge included a windmill dunk by Griffin, and the Clippers maintained a 70-48 cushion at the break.
Paul scored 17 of his points in the first half on 7-of-9 shooting, including 3-for-3 on 3-pointers.
It got worse for the Lakers in the second half. By the end of the third quarter, the Clippers held a 99-63 edge.
Overall, the Clippers converted 47.1 percent (40 of 85) of their shots compared to 43.1 percent (37 of 85) for the Lakers. They also made 12 of 33 (36.4 percent) of their 3-point shots to five of 20 (25 percent) for the Lakers.
NOTES: The Clippers traded reserve G Jared Cunningham, the draft rights to G Cenk Akyol and cash considerations to the Philadelphia 76ers in exchange for the draft rights of Ukraine F Serhiy Lishchuk, who plays in the Spanish League. … Lakers G Ronnie Price missed the game with a broken nose and flu. G Jeremy Lin replaced him in the starting lineup and scored 12 points. Also, F Wesley Johnson sat out his second straight game with a strained right hip flexor. Lakers G Wayne Ellington started in his spot. Coach Byron Scott said Johnson would be re-evaluated Friday. … The Clippers won the initial meeting 118-111 on Oct. 31. … The Lakers host the Orlando Magic on Friday, while the Clippers play back-to-back contests Saturday and Sunday against the Dallas Mavericks and Miami Heat at Staples Center.
