NBA News Wire
Clippers 106, Bucks 98
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 and grabbed 14 rebounds, leading the Los Angeles Clippers to a 106-98 victory over the Milwaukee Bucks on Monday night at Staples Center.
The Clippers (50-21) topped the 50-win mark for only the second time in franchise history. They won 56 games last season. Milwaukee (13-58) lost its eighth straight game.
Guard Darren Collison added 15 points and six assists, point guard Chris Paul had 14 points and seven assists and guard Jamal Crawford came off the bench to score 13 points.
Griffin also had six assists and three blocks. His scoring output marked the 29th consecutive game he’s scored at least 20 points.
Guard Ramon Sessions led Milwaukee with 28 points to go along with seven rebounds and six assists. Forward Jeff Adrien and center Zaza Pachulia scored 14 points apiece.
The Clippers posted double-digit leads in each quarter but could not shake the Bucks. The Clippers took a 79-74 lead into the fourth quarter before Milwaukee cut the margin to 82-80 on an alley-oop dunk by forward John Henson with 10 minutes left in the game.
But consecutive baskets by forward Glen Davis ignited a 12-4 run for a 94-84 lead with about six minutes remaining. Milwaukee cut the deficit to 96-92 after a free throw by forward Giannis Antetokounmpo with 3:24 left, but the Clippers pulled away down the stretch.
Los Angeles led by as much as 15 in the first quarter before the Bucks rallied in the second. Milwaukee pulled to within 47-46 after a layup by forward Khris Middleton with 5:10 remaining in the second quarter, but failed to take the lead. The Clippers held on for a 57-52 advantage at the break.
The Clippers hit 48.7 percent (38-of-78) of their shots compared to 48.2 percent (41-of-85) for the Bucks. The Clippers outscored the Bucks 22-7 on fastbreak points.
Milwaukee held a 54-40 edge on points in the paint.
NOTES: Milwaukee fielded its 26th different starting lineup, with G Ramon Sessions and F Jeff Adrien getting starting nods. Bucks coach Larry Drew held out F Ersan Ilyasova to prevent him from playing back-to-back games. Ilyasova has been nursing an ailing right ankle. … Los Angeles G Jamal Crawford had one 3-pointer Monday, and he needs five more to pass Los Angeles Lakers G Steve Nash for 11th all-time on treys. Crawford also is five shy of the club mark of 149 in a season. … The Bucks are 2-27 against Western Conference teams. Their only wins were over the Lakers and the Utah Jazz. … Monday’s game capped an eight-game road trip for the Bucks. They return home for two games, facing the Lakers on Thursday and the Miami Heat on Saturday. … The Clippers embark on a five-game road swing beginning Wednesday against the New Orleans Hornets.
