Paul, Griffin lead Clippers in rout of Heat
{{#rendered}} {{/rendered}}Miami, FL (SportsNetwork.com) - Chris Paul and Blake Griffin each deposited 26 points to lead the Los Angeles Clippers to a 110-93 win over the Miami Heat on Thursday.
Paul dished out 12 assists to just one turnovers and Griffin pulled down seven rebounds with four assists for the Clippers, who have opened up their seven- game road trip with two straight wins.
"I think we're doing what we're supposed to," said Paul. "The biggest thing for us is defending. I'm forcing us to play a little bit faster."
{{#rendered}} {{/rendered}}JJ Redick scored 14 points on 4-of-8 shooting from 3-point range and DeAndre Jordan registered 12 points and 11 rebounds in the win. Los Angeles hadn't won in Miami since March 10, 2008, snapping a five-game skid.
Chris Bosh led the Heat with 28 points in their fourth loss in the last five games. Shabazz Napier dropped in 17 points, while Mario Chalmers and Luol Deng each chipped in with 13 points in the setback.
Dwyane Wade missed his fourth straight game due to various injuries.
{{#rendered}} {{/rendered}}Both teams traded baskets over the first two minutes before Los Angeles ripped off 13 straight as Redick capped the run with a 3-pointer for a 17-6 lead.
Later in the quarter, Redick and Paul bookended a 12-0 surge with shots from beyond the arc to help the Clippers extend the cushion to 23. Los Angeles shot a blistering 68 percent (17-of-25) from the floor over the first 12 minutes -- including 62.5 percent (5-for-8) from deep -- and committed just one turnover, taking a 39-15 lead into the second.
"Not a whole lot to say," said Heat coach Erik Spoelstra. "That was a blitz in that first quarter. They played outstanding basketball in that first quarter."
{{#rendered}} {{/rendered}}Paul finished the first half with 12 points and seven assists as he spearheaded the offensive effort that helped the Clippers score 30 points in the paint for a 58-40 advantage at the break. Los Angeles' defense was also a big reason it took a large margin into the locker room, holding Miami to just 13.3 percent (2-for-15) from 3-point range in the first two quarters.
The Clippers continued to keep it moving on offense in the second half, leading by as many as 26 and cruising to the finish.
Game Notes
{{#rendered}} {{/rendered}}Jordan went 6-for-6 from the field ... The Clippers shot 43-for-77 (55.8 percent) for the game and held Miami to 30-of-67 (44.8 percent) shooting ... LA had a 44-26 edge in the paint and outrebounded the Heat 35-30 ... Norris Cole left the game in the first half with a dislocated finger on his left hand. He did compete in his 160th consecutive game, moving him one game away from Grant Long for the second-longest streak in team history.