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Clippers 110, Wizards 103
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 29 points, and the Los Angeles Clippers held off the Washington Wizards for 110-103 victory Wednesday night at Staples Center.
The Clippers, who played their first game at home after a seven-game road trip, captured their fourth win in a row.
Guards Jamal Crawford and J.J. Redick scored 21 and 20 points, respectively, for Los Angeles (33-15). Center DeAndre Jordan finished with 14 points and 17 rebounds. Griffin, who hit 12 of 20 shots, had nine rebounds but committed a game-high six turnovers. Point guard Darren Collison added 16 points and nine assists.
Guard Bradley Beal led Washington (22-23) with 20 points, while point guard John Wall added 19 points and 11 assists. Nene chipped in 14 points, eight rebounds and six assists.
Washington, which was playing its second game in as many nights after beating the Golden State Warriors on Tuesday, failed to top the .500 mark for the first time since the 2009 season. Seven times the Wizards had a chance to top the elusive mark this season, and seven times they failed.
Instead, the Wizards fell to the Clippers for the 10th time in their last 11 meetings, including six in a row at Staples. The Wizards haven’t beaten the Clippers in Los Angeles since February 2008.
The Clippers led 62-51 at the half behind Griffin’s 16 points on 6-of-8 shooting. They increased their lead to 72-56 four minutes into the third quarter after a basket by Collison before the Wizards rallied and cut the deficit to 81-74 heading into the fourth quarter.
Washington closed to within one several times during the fourth quarter but failed to take the lead.
A layup by Wizards reserve center Kevin Seraphin cut the gap to 100-99 with three minutes remaining in the game, but a layup by Collison and two free throws by Jordan, who was intentionally fouled, gave the Clippers a five-point advantage with 2:21 left.
Beal missed two free throws with 2:07 remaining before the Wizards intentionally fouled Jordan again. Jordan, who converted six of 10 free throws, hit both for a 107-99 lead with 2:02 left.
NOTES: Clippers C DeAndre Jordan tied Danny Manning for fourth place on the franchise list for consecutive games at 206. Jordan has the NBA’s longest active streak. … Los Angeles coach Doc Rivers continues to campaign for Jordan to be added to the All-Star roster, with the reserves being announced Thursday. Jordan leads the league in rebounding and field-goal percentage. … Rivers said Washington G Bradley Beal, second on the team in scoring at 17 points per game, is an underrated defender. “I think people look at him as a shooter, but they should look at him as far more than that,” Rivers said. … The Clippers visit the Golden State Warriors on Thursday in another clash between the Western Conference contenders who quickly have become heated rivals. … The Wizards begin a five-game homestand Saturday against the Oklahoma City Thunder.
