LA Clippers lead all game in 119-102 rout of Denver Nuggets
In their first game without Blake Griffin, the LA Clippers crushed the visiting Denver Nuggets 119-102, led by J.J. Redick’s 27 points.
J.J. Redick shot lights out with 27 points, going 7-of-9 from three-point range to help the LA Clippers (21-8) secure a win and end the Denver Nuggets three-game winning streak.
Chris Paul tallied 16 points, 15 assists and was just two rebounds shy of a triple-double with eight boards in 26 minutes. DeAndre Jordan played above the rim with 13 points and 13 rebounds. Luc Mbah A Moute chipped in 14 points in the Clippers’ first game without Blake Griffin, who had arthroscopic surgery on his right knee on Tuesday.
Will Barton led the Nuggets with 22 points off the bench, Danilo Gallinari added 17 points, and Kenneth Faried had a double-double with 15 points and 11 rebounds.
The Clippers dominated early against the Nuggets. They seemed to make everything they put up, while playing good defense against a Nuggets team coming off a three-game winning streak. Paul with the first assist on a lob to Jordan started the run. Redick started out the first quarter on fire, too, going 4-of-5 and 3-of-3 from deep to get out to a 16 point-lead.
The Nuggets fought back to get it to 10 by the end of the quarter. The Clippers look like the rested team with the nuggets playing yesterday. Denver close outs were late and they had no answer for DeAndre Jordan.
Denver withstood the onslaught in the first, but in the second the Nugget’s bench pushed the pace. The lead shrunk to four before the starters came back and went off again to grow the lead to 15. The ball movement looked very crisp and the defense from the starters was strong.
The third quarter was no different and the Clippers went on a tear. Paul was masterful in orchestrating the offense with Jordan in the paint and Redick beyond the arc. The Clippers showed why the Nuggets are in the bottom of the pack in defensive rating (25th) and opponents points per game (26th). Ball movement was fluid by the starters and Paul aggressive on both ends of the floor.
The game was decided before the start of the fourth with the Clippers’ starters not playing beyond the third quarter. The bench play continues to struggle when playing together, with very little defense against (especially in the paint) and a hard time getting good shots together. The bench players for the Clippers ended the game in the negative in plus/minus, but at least held onto a solid enough lead.
The Nuggets crushed the Clippers on the boards 46-37. L.A. held Denver to 43.3 percent shooting from the field and 28.2 percent from deep.
Clippers found success with more space
More from Clipperholics
Granted, the Clippers did not play against an elite defensive team, but they were still able to impose their will. The spacing improved with Griffin out, and the team found easy shots with good ball movement. Paul found people early and often with the Clippers assisting on 32 of their 47 field goals.
Even with the better spacing it does not mean the Clippers play better without Griffin. He helps create for others and his scoring is not easy to duplicate. All players have to step up to help fill in for Griffin’s offense while he is recovering.
Notes
Clippers shot 61% for the first half, their highest of the season.
Paul Pierce started in place for Blake Griffin for the second time, but played only 19 minutes. He had seven points with two threes and one rebound.
Griffin is expected to miss between four and six weeks with arthroscopic surgery on his right knee.
Want your voice heard? Join the Clipperholics team!
Up next
LA hosts the San Antonio Spurs on Thursday, look to go up in the season series 2-0 to the Spurs. In a potential playoff match up the Clippers need establish themselves in the paint and try to contain the Spurs shooters. Kawhi Leonard will likely shadow Chris Paul to have someone else make plays for the Clippers. Game start: 7:30pm on Fox Sports Prime Ticket and TNT.
