Five things to take from the Clippers’ 120-108 victory at Oklahoma City

Chris Paul goes up for two of his 33 points with OKC’s Russell Westbrook guarding him/Photo by Alonzo Adams, Associated Press

 

– Point guard Chris Paul had a terrific game. He scored 33 points on 11 of 19 shooting – 5 of 8 from 3-point range. He also helped throw a blanket over OKC point guard Russell Westbrook, who has been phenomenal this season – especially of late. Since Feb. 2 he had produced six 40-plus point games and six triple-doubles. He was held to 24 points Wednesday on 5 of 14 shooting. He was just 2 of 8 from the field for seven points and seven of his 10 turnovers while Paul was guarding him. Paul has averaged 22 points and 13.4 assists in the past 14 games, all of which have been missed by Blake Griffin (elbow).

J.J. Redick also came up with another fine performance. He scored 25 points with five rebounds, seven assists and three steals. Redick has averaged 22.6 points in five games this month while shooting a combined 48.3 percent from the field – 41 percent from beyond the arc.

– What the heck is going on with Spencer Hawes? He scored just four points on 1 of 7 shooting in 31 1/2 minutes of action. The 7-foot-1 big gathered only three rebounds. In his past five games he’s made just 11 of 40 field-goal attempts (27.5 percent) while averaging 5.8 points and just 3.6 rebounds. In one of those games, Monday’s victory over Minnesota, Hawes had one measly rebound in 23 minutes. Though a center by trade, Hawes has been starting at power forward for Griffin.

Matt Barnes was feeling it in this one. The small forward out of UCLA burned the Thunder for 22 points on 6 of 8 shooting. Barnes made all of his field-goal attempts from 3-point range, going 6 of 7 from beyond the arc. Barnes also was solid on defense as he came through with three steals and two blocks.

– So the Thunder and coach Scott Brooks went to the hack-a-DJ ploy in this one and DeAndre Jordan responded by making 12 of 22 from the free-throw line. That is 54.5 percent. For someone shooting just 41 percent on the season, that is not too shabby. Beginning with 7:50 left in the game, Jordan made seven of his final 10 free-throw attempts. He had 17 points and 18 rebounds.

Chris Paul scores 20 points in first half at OKC, Clippers lead 65-57 at break

Chris Paul

Chris Paul/Photo courtesy of Los Angeles Clippers, NBA.com

 

The Clippers went on a scoring rampage in the first half Wednesday night at Oklahoma City and by the time intermission rolled around, they held a 65-57 lead over the host Thunder at Chesapeake Energy Arena.

Chris Paul – sore right knee and all – scored 20 points in the half on 8 of 12 shooting – 4 of 6 from 3-point range. J.J. Redick had 16 points on 4 of 7 from the field – 2 of 3 from beyond the arc.

The Clippers (41-23) shot 50 percent overall, 50 percent (8 of 16) from 3-point range. They also made 17 of 18 from the free-throw line in the first 24 minutes of action. Believe it or not, DeAndre Jordan made 5 of 6 from the line. He had nine points and 11 rebounds.

Anthony Morrow led OKC (35-28) with 17 points off the bench in the half. Russell Westbrook, who is averaging 40.7 points this month, had 12 points, four assists and seven rebounds.

After leading by 18, Clippers down by two points at halftime at Minnesota

Chris Paul

Chris Paul had 19 points and nine assists in the first half Monday at Minnesota/Photo courtesy of Los Angeles Clippers, NBA.com

 

The Clippers on Monday night at Minnesota led by 18 points (36-18) with 50 seconds left in the first quarter. They trailed by two (60-58) at halftime. That’s a 20-point turnaround against the worst team in the Western Conference as Minnesota entered play with a record of 13-45.

The Clippers (39-21) – 6-3 without the injured Blake Griffin (elbow) – got 19 points and nine assists from Chris Paul in the half. Jamal Crawford scored nine points, J.J. Redick eight and DeAndre Jordan had six points and nine rebounds.

Recently signed Jordan Hamilton started for Matt Barnes at small forward because Barnes is out with a hamstring injury. Hamilton scored five points in the first quarter and did not score in the second.

Ricky Rubio and Zach LaVine scored 12 points apiece for the Timberwolves in the half.

 

Blake Griffin has solid first half, but Clippers trail Blazers 54-46

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Blake Griffin

Blake Griffin/Photo courtesy of Los Angeles Clippers

Blake Griffin scored 17 points in the first half for the Clippers on Friday, but no other player on the team was in double figures as they trailed the Portland Trail Blazers 54-46 at intermission at Staples Center.

J.J. Redick had seven points in the half, Matt Barnes six.

Damian Lilard has 18 points for the Trail Blazers.

Los Angeles is shooting 48.8 percent from the field to just 42.5 for Portland. But the Trail Blazers have been to the free-throw line 19 times and have made 16. The Clippers are 3 of 5 from the line.

 

Clippers trail the Phoenix Suns 61-58 at halftime at Staples Center

The Clippers trail the Phoenix Suns 61-58 at halftime Wednesday night at Staples Center.

Chris Paul has 18 points to lead the Clippers, Blake Griffin has 16. The Clippers are just 1-5 in exhibition play.

Phoenix (4-1) has gotten 16 points from Eric Bledsoe.

The Clippers are shooting 53.7 from the field, 53.3 (8 of 15) from 3-point range.

Jamal Crawford and DeAndre Jordan are not playing for the Clippers