Griffin, Paul lead Clippers over Jazz
{{#rendered}} {{/rendered}}Salt Lake City, UT (SportsNetwork.com) - Blake Griffin had 28 points, Chris Paul scored 17 with 10 assists and the Los Angeles Clippers rolled to a 112-96 win over the slumping Utah Jazz on Saturday night to finish off a successful road trip.
Jamal Crawford added 22 points off the bench and J.J. Redick scored 13 for the Clippers, who finished 6-1 on their seven-game trek.
"Whether we went 6-1 or 4-3, we would have been better when this trip was over. It was guaranteed," Clippers coach Doc Rivers said. "I think defensively we grew the most."
{{#rendered}} {{/rendered}}They have won 11 in a row against the Jazz since Utah's last victory in the series on Jan. 17, 2012.
Gordon Hayward poured in 30 points to lead the Jazz, who have lost five in a row overall. Derrick Favors chipped in 19 points and Trevor Booker scored 15 off the bench.
"We did a good job of fighting back," said Booker. "We made a (few) errors, (some) miscommunication and they capitalized on it."
{{#rendered}} {{/rendered}}The Clippers never trailed. Griffin had 13 points in the first quarter and Crawford hit consecutive 3s to cap a 10-0 burst that gave them a 20-point lead.
It was 35-18 going into the second quarter and got as close as five points at the end of an extended 17-2 run by the Jazz, keyed by five points apiece from Dante Exum, Hayward and Booker.
LA took a 62-50 lead into halftime and led by as many as 21 points in the third quarter.
{{#rendered}} {{/rendered}}The Jazz trailed 90-76 entering the fourth and were never closer than 12 down the stretch.
Game Notes
The Clippers will start a four-game homestand on Monday against Minnesota, their first game at Staples Center since losing to Chicago on Nov. 17 ... Utah continues a four-game homestand on Monday against Denver.