Clippers drop Suns, extend winning streak to 13

Phoenix, AZ – Blake Griffin and Chris Paul both posted double-doubles as the Los Angeles Clippers extended their franchise-record winning streak with a 103-77 rout of the Phoenix Suns at US Airways Center.

Griffin finished with 23 points and 11 rebounds, while Paul filled the stat sheet with 17 points, 13 assists and five steals for the Clippers, who have now won 13 straight.

"We're just taking care of business right now," said Griffin. "To be honest, we're not really concerned with, 'you haven't won here since then' or 'you haven't won this many games in a row,' we hear it all but we're about just getting these wins and if they come within a streak or when we haven't won somewhere, that's fine. It's more about the way we play and how we execute."

Jamal Crawford and Matt Barnes added 22 and 15 points, respectively, off the bench in the victory.

Jared Dudley had 19 points and Luis Scola contributed 11 for Phoenix, which dropped its second consecutive game on the heels of a four-game win streak.

"They are deep. They have all the ingredients to be a championship team," said Phoenix coach Alvin Gentry. "They got a great leader in Chris Paul, a tremendous player in Blake Griffin, they are deep off the bench, very good defensively, very athletic. I don't know a weakness that they have, really."

Markieff Morris totaled 10 points, seven rebounds and five steals in defeat.

Neither team took a lead larger than four points through a back-and-forth first quarter that saw six lead changes and three ties until the Clippers reeled off an 11-0 run to jump ahead, 28-20, with about a minute left in the frame.

A Marcin Gortat jumper and Dudley layup closed Phoenix's gap to 28-24 entering the second quarter, where an early 6-2 push brought the Suns within 33-30.

But Los Angeles countered with five straight points and Phoenix would get no closer than three points from there as the Clippers closed out the half with a 15-3 run to carry a 58-43 advantage into the break.

Paul had 16 points, six assists and four steals over the opening 24 minutes to pace Los Angeles, which forced 10 Phoenix turnovers in the first half, resulting in 13 points.

The Clippers then cruised through the second half, outscoring the Suns by a mark of 33-17 in the third quarter en route to a 91-60 advantage entering the fourth.

Phoenix trailed by at least 23 points throughout the final 12 minutes as both teams emptied their benches.

Game Notes

Phoenix coach Alvin Gentry was issued a pair of technical fouls late in the second quarter and was ejected from the game for arguing with an official ... Los Angeles improved to 9-3 on the road this season, while Phoenix fell to 9-6 at home ... The Clippers snapped a 10-game losing streak in Phoenix ... The Clippers have not lost since a 105-98 decision to New Orleans on Nov. 26 ... LA also set a new franchise record with six consecutive road victories.