LOS ANGELES – Chris Paul scored 23 points and 11 assists for his third consecutive double-double and the Clippers point guard dominated his former team the New Orleans Pelicans 107-100 on Sunday afternoon.
“I was with Monty [Williams] his first year as a head coach, and the equipment guy, ‘Big Shot’ is still like family to me,” said Paul about New Orleans. “It’s definitely somewhat still like home.”
All five starters scored in double-figures for the Clippers. Blake Griffin had 23 points, DeAndre Jordan had 12 points and 16 rebounds, J.J. Redick added 20, and Matt Barnes had 12.
“I think we all trust the system and know the system works,” said Griffin about the team’s balanced attack. “That stretch of games where I was sitting out, they really trusted the system and played really well. Trusting the system is huge.”
Jordan had 14 or more rebounds for the 19th consecutive game, the longest streak in the NBA since Dennis Rodman in 1992-1993.
“It’s really cool and humbling,” said Jordan about joining elite company. “I know that’s my job [rebounding] and that’s something I really want to do.”
The difference in the game was on the offensive glass as Jordan’s eight rebounds led to a 25-6 Clippers advantage on second chance points.
With the victory, the Clippers moved ½ a game ahead of the idle Portland Trail Blazers for the fourth best record in the Western Conference and are one game back of the Houston Rockets for the third spot.
“It’s important to get home-court advantage,” said Jordan about the team’s record in the West. “But, at the end of the day, playoffs are just about matchups and how hard we come out and play. At the end of the day, you have to come out and win a game on the road if you want to advance.”
Los Angeles has won four consecutive games and are 4-1 since Griffin returned to the lineup with a staph infection in his right elbow.
Anthony “The Brow” Davis led the Pelicans with 26 points, 12 rebounds, 5 assists and two blocks. Davis missed the Pelicans last two games with an ankle injury, but vows to battle through it as New Orleans fights with Oklahoma City for the 8th and final playoff spot in the West.
“We just have to find a way to win,” said Davis. “We’re not going to take games off just because people are hurt. If you think you can go, then step on the floor. We’re not a team who’s calling it in.
Eric Gordon scored 23 points off the bench. Gordon played for the Clippers from 2008-2011 and was traded before the 2011-2012 season for LA point guard Chris Paul.
“It’s always fun to play here in LA,” said Gordon about the homecoming. “I started my career here and it’s always fun to play here.”
Gordon landed face first after getting hit hard by Matt Barnes in the third quarter and lost a tooth on the play.
“I don’t know exactly what happened. I thought I got fouled, but I just got tripped up, lost control, and it was just weird to hit my face on the floor. I knew right away I lost my tooth. It was painful, I had a bit of a headache, but I was still going to play, especially in a tough game like this,” said Gordon of the play.
When asked when he would be seeing the dentist to replace his missing tooth, Gordon only needed one word to let everyone know:
“Tomorrow!” he said with a smile showing off his missing front tooth.
Since going 9-2 over an 11-game stretch, the Pelicans have now lost four of five and are three games behind OKC for the 8th seed.
Omer Asik, Ryan Anderson, and Tyreke Evans all missed the game for the short-handed Pelicans. Gordon, who usually starts, came off the bench after he was late for a team meeting on Saturday.
Game Notes:
The Clippers celebrated Latino Heritage Day during the game as fans in attendance received a free “Los Clippers” T-shirt. Hispanic dancers, dressed in traditional latino costumes, performed at halftime during the game.
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