Clippers Face Depleted Nuggets And Beat Them Handily, 107-92

DENVER (AP) -- J.J. Redick scored 24 points, DeAndre Jordan had 14 points and 22 rebounds and the Los Angeles Clippers beat the Denver Nuggets 107-92 on Saturday night.

Chris Paul had 23 points and nine assists for the Clippers, who moved a half-game ahead of San Antonio for the fifth seed in the Western Conference with their ninth win in 10 games. They are just a game back of Memphis for the third seed and host the Grizzlies next Saturday.

Los Angeles has just two road games remaining, although one of them is against the Lakers at Staples Center.

On Saturday, the Clippers made themselves at home at Pepsi Center against a depleted Nuggets team, missing point guard and leading scorer Ty Lawson due to a sore right forearm. The Nuggets were further short-handed when backup Jameer Nelson left in the second quarter with a right hip flexor strain.

The Clippers took advantage of Lawson's absence, scoring the first 12 points and jumping out to an 18-2 lead. Los Angeles hit its first five 3-pointers and were ahead 24-6 after Redick's first 3 of the game.

The lead grew to 44-20 early in the second quarter before the Nuggets made a run to get within 13 in the final minutes of the half.

Los Angeles led by 16 when the Nuggets began intentionally fouling Jordan. The center, who came into the game hitting just 39 percent from the line, hit 5 of 9 before going to the bench with the Clippers up 78-64.

The Clippers went more than 3 minutes without scoring in the fourth quarter but Redick's fourth 3 of the night broke the drought and gave Los Angeles a 96-78 lead.

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