Clippers beat Lakers 102-94 behind 33 by Paul
LOS ANGELES (AP)—The Los Angeles Clippers showed they could beat the Lakers even with Kobe Bryant going over the 40-point mark for the fourth consecutive game.
Chris Paul scored 33 points, Blake Griffin had 22 points and 14 rebounds, and the Clippers led all the way in winning 102-94 on Saturday night, their second victory in four days over one of the NBA’s elite teams.
“It’s early. We’re not going to get too high with these wins,” Paul said. “We definitely made strides in the right direction defensively and with rebounding. We got to make that habit and not a one-time thing.”
Chauncey Billups added 19 points, former Laker Caron Butler had 13 points and DeAndre Jordan had 10 rebounds for the Clippers, who beat Miami 95-89 in overtime on Wednesday and have won five of their last six.
Paul limped off after hitting a jumper in the final minutes and said after the game that he hurt his left leg and would see a doctor.
Griffin said he wasn’t concerned with the doubters who wonder if the Clippers may finally shed their reputation as perennial losers.
“It’s definitely going to take time if we’re going to remove that label,” he said. “We don’t care. We’re worried about this year.”
Paul, Billups and Butler—all added before the season began—are paying early dividends. Paul, who had 27 points against the Heat, was originally headed to the Lakers from New Orleans until Commissioner David Stern nixed the deal.
“They couldn’t guard him,” Billups said of Paul. “Coming off the pick-and-rolls, he was unstoppable. His shot was on point and he really caused them a lot of problems.”
The Clippers controlled the boards 50-42, including a 17-11 edge on the offensive glass, despite being the league’s worst rebounding team playing against the league’s best.- http://sports.yahoo.com/
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