Clippers Win Again Without Griffin, Beating Hawks, 85-83
ATLANTA (AP) — Jamal Crawford scored 21 points and the Los Angeles Clippers won again without Blake Griffin, holding off the mistake-prone Atlanta Hawks, 85-83, on Wednesday night.
The Hawks turned it over a season-high 23 times but still had a chance to force overtime when Chris Paul lost the handle on an inbounds pass after Al Horford's free throw. Atlanta got it back with 6.7 seconds left and inbounded to Paul Millsap, who drove against Luc Mbah a Moute and got a good look at the basket but came up short on a running one-hander. The horn sounded as the Clippers celebrated their 14th win in 17 games.
Los Angeles won for the second straight night after word leaked that Griffin would be out 4-6 weeks, having broken his shooting hand by punching a staff member. He apologized for the incident on Twitter late Tuesday, and his teammates kept on winning.
DeAndrew Jordan scored 13 points and grabbed 19 rebounds, foiling the Hawks' strategy to keep sending him to line by making 6 of 8 free throws in the fourth quarter.
Jeff Teague led Atlanta with 16 points.
Both teams looked ragged — not surprising with the Hawks coming off a weeklong West Coast road trip, while the Clippers were finishing up a five-game East Coast run and played the night before at Indiana.
Atlanta shot just 42 percent (33 of 79) and eclipsed its previous high for turnovers, after surrendering the ball 22 times at Indiana on Dec. 28. The Clippers connected on just 39 percent (33 of 85) from the field, including a dismal 5-of-27 showing from behind the 3-point arc.
Chris Paul had 11 points and 10 assists, while J.J. Redick added 12 points.
TIP-INS
Clippers: Coach Doc Rivers considered giving 38-year-old Paul Pierce the night off in the second half of a back-to-back. He wound up starting but played just under 15 minutes, least among the starters, scoring 5 points. He went 23 minutes the night before at Indiana. ... Rookie Branden Dawson was inactive. ... Los Angeles scored 17 points off Atlanta turnovers.
Hawks: Assigned C Walter "Edy" Tavares to the Austin Spurs of the NBA Development League to get some playing time. The rookie has been in nine D-League games this season, averaging 10.9 points, 10.6 rebounds and 2.7 blocks. ... Justin Holiday was inactive for the fifth game in a row. ... All five starters scored in double figures.
UP NEXT
Clippers: Host the Los Angeles Lakers on Friday night.
Hawks: Travel to Indiana on Thursday to meet the Pacers.
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