THINGS LOOK UP IN WEST
Hoping to improve playoff spot, Clippers roll over Wizards for third win in a row.
The Clippers are starting to make their move in the Western Conference.
Chris Paul, J.J. Redick, Blake Griffin and DeAndre Jordan made sure the Clippers continued their upward mobility by helping them defeat the Washington Wizards, 113-99, Friday night at Staples Center.
The win allowed the fifthseeded Clippers to move to within a half-game of the fourth-seeded Portland Trail Blazers in the West.
With 12 regular-season games left, the Clippers (4525) still have an opportunity to get home-court advantage in the playoffs if they keep winning and move up in the standings.
“I just know that if we just win, it’ll take care of itself,” Clippers Coach Doc Rivers said about where his team stands in the West. “I have no clue. I think we’re all bundled together.
“So it doesn’t matter if I look at them [standings]. If I
thought I could stare at them and change their numbers, I would do that. I think the last four or five games, you look at where [you are in the West].”
Paul put the Clippers in a good spot by scoring 30 points, handing out 15 assists, grabbing six rebounds and staying on the attack all game.
Redick had yet another big night for the Clippers, his smooth shooting placing him in the Clippers’ history books. Redick had 26 points on nine-for-15 shooting, making four of seven threepointers.
He set the Clippers’ single-season record for threepointers at 164, passing the mark of 161 that Jamal Crawford established last season.
Redick’s three-pointer with 5:19 left gave the Clippers a 13-point cushion that allowed them ride away for their third consecutive win.
“Jamal had mentioned something to me two or three weeks ago, when I was at 130-something,” Redick said of his three-point total. “It’s cool to break Jamal’s record — a good friend and a guy I love playing with.”
The game turned physical for Griffin, the hard fouls coming twice in the third quarter in about a two-minute span.
Griffin had beaten every Wizard down court, but was wrestled down by Paul Pierce, who was called for a flagrant foul 1 after the officials reviewed the play.
Not long after that, Griffin was knocked down hard by Nene, who also was called for a flagrant 1 after the officials reviewed the play.
Griffin made only one of four free throws after the two fouls. Still, he finished with 22 points, six rebounds and five assists.
Jordan continued to dominate on the backboards, grabbing 23 rebounds to go along with 10 points.
Matt Barnes, who missed the last two games with soreness in his right hamstring, was back starting at small forward for the Clippers. He had eight points and played good defense on Pierce, who made two of 11 shots as the Wizards had their five-game winning streak end.
“We have a great starting lineup,” Rivers said. “I’ve been saying that all year. Our starting lineup all year has been good. And tonight, they were special.”