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Clippers 108, Pelicans 76
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 — The Los Angeles Clippers added to the misery of the New Orleans Pelicans, coasting to a 108-76 rout on Saturday night at Staples Center.
Point guard Chris Paul scored 21 points and dished out eight assists, while forward Blake Griffin added 20 points for Los Angeles. Both players played only three quarters. For Griffin, it was the 19th consecutive game he has scored at least 20 points. Clippers guard Darren Collison had 15 points.
The Clippers (41-20) captured their fourth straight and beat New Orleans for the sixth consecutive time and in the second meeting this week. The Pelicans (23-26) fell to their seventh defeat in a row and their ninth in the last 11 games.
The Pacific Division-leading Clippers wasted little time building a big lead and keeping New Orleans, which missed 12 of its initial 14 shots, at a distance. They led by as much as 21 in the first half en route to a 51-36 lead at the break. Griffin and Paul each scored 14 points in the half. The Clippers held New Orleans to 30.6 percent shooting (15 of 49), while making 47.2 percent (17 of 36) of their attempts.
Overall, Los Angeles converted 46.9 percent (38 of 81) compared to only 32.9 percent (28 of 85) for the Pelicans. New Orleans missed 19 of its 22 (13.6 percent) attempts from behind the 3-point arc. The Clippers hit 9 of 25 on 3-pointers (36 percent)
In the third quarter, Los Angeles continued to pour it on. The Clippers increased the margin to 27 after a free throw by center DeAndre Jordan, who finished with 12 rebounds, four blocks and seven points, with 3:41 remaining in the third before taking a 79-56 advantage to end the quarter.
The Clippers outscored New Orleans 25-2 in fast-break points.
Forward Matt Barnes, who hit four of his eight 3-pointers, had 14 points and six rebounds for Los Angeles.
Guard Tyreke Evans had 22 points, nine rebounds and five assists for New Orleans. Reserve guard Austin Rivers chipped in 19 points. Center Alexis Ajinca had 11 points and 10 rebounds.
Forward Anthony Davis, who scored a career-tying 32 points in a loss to the Phoenix Suns on Friday, had a rough night. Davis finished with eight points and four rebounds in 20 foul-plagued minutes. He managed just 1-of-6 shooting from the floor.
NOTES: Clippers F Danny Granger, who was inactive for Saturday’s game, got lost before the contest. “I must have been here a thousand times playing throughout the years and I still could not find the players’ entrance to drive in,” said Granger, who signed as a free agent Friday after receiving a buyout from the Philadelphia 76ers two days earlier. “I drove around Staples (Center) like five times.” Still, Granger believes he will have no trouble being a key contributor to the Clippers. “It’s an up-tempo type of system,” Granger said, “It’s a system I have thrived in in the past.” … Los Angeles G Jamal Crawford, who did not play, is listed as day-to-day. Crawford strained his left calf in Wednesday’s win over the Houston Rockets. … Pelicans coach Monty Williams shook up the lineup and started G-F Tyreke Evans and C Alexis Ajinca.
