Clippers top Wizards, win fourth straight
{{#rendered}} {{/rendered}}Los Angeles, CA (SportsNetwork.com) - Blake Griffin poured in a game-high 29 points and Jamal Crawford added 21 to lead the Los Angeles Clippers to a 110-103 win over the Washington Wizards at Staples Center.
J.J. Redick added 20 points, Darren Collison had 16 points and nine assists and DeAndre Jordan finished with 14 points and 17 rebounds for the Clippers, winners in four straight.
"It wasn't pretty, that's for sure. It was a grind it out game," Crawford said.
{{#rendered}} {{/rendered}}Bradley Beal scored 20 points and John Wall added 19 points and 11 assists for the Wizards, who are 4-4 over their last eight games.
The Wizards pulled within 100-99 with three minutes left, but Los Angeles used an 8-0 burst to go up 108-99. Collison kicked things off with a tough layup, and Washington never got closer than seven the rest of the day.
The Wizards led 31-30 after 12 minutes, but LA outscored Washington 32-20 in the second to take a 62-51 edge into the break.
{{#rendered}} {{/rendered}}The Clippers' lead swelled to 16 points, 72-56, after a Redick jumper with 8:20 remaining in the third, but the Wizards outscored the hosts 18-9 to make it 81-74 entering the final frame.
"I wasn't happy with our defense in the first half, then we got things going," Wizards head coach Randy Wittman said.
The Wizards scored the first six points of the fourth to make it 81-80, but the Clippers stretched their lead to seven, 97-90, after a Redick jumper with 6:19 left.
{{#rendered}} {{/rendered}}Game Notes
Griffin was 12-for-20 from the field and pulled down nine rebounds ... Washington outscored the Clippers 62-42 in the paint ... The Clippers outrebounded the Wizards by a 43-36 margin ... Nene had 14 points, eight rebounds and six assists in the setback.