Clippers 107, Pelicans 100
Clippers 107, Pelicans 100: Chris Paul recorded 23 points, 11 assists, seven rebounds and four steals as Los Angeles beat visiting New Orleans for the fifth straight time.
Blake Griffin added eight of his 23 points in the fourth quarter for the Clippers, who have won four in a row to bolster their positioning in a crowded playoff race in the Western Conference. J.J. Redick tallied 20 points while DeAndre Jordan had 12 points and 16 rebounds for Los Angeles, which forced 18 turnovers.
Anthony Davis scored 26 points on 11-of-13 shooting to go along with 12 rebounds and five assists after missing the previous two games with an ankle injury for the Pelicans. Eric Gordon chipped in 23 points while Norris Cole and Quincy Pondexter had 12 apiece for New Orleans, which fell three games behind the Thunder for the last playoff spot in the West.
Paul converted a three-point play and knocked down a jumper to put the Clippers on top 71-68 and they led by eight early in the final frame before Davis' dunk trimmed the deficit to 85-83. Griffin finished at the rim on two straight trips to give Los Angeles some breathing room at 101-91 with 2:47 left and the Clippers made six free throws down the stretch to preserve the victory.
The Pelicans shot 70 percent in the first quarter but only led 28-27 before Paul took over, scoring nine points as part of a 13-2 run to put the Clippers in front 50-43. Gordon buried back-to-back 3-pointers during a 10-0 burst to end the second quarter as New Orleans took a 53-50 advantage at intermission and his driving layup stretched the lead to seven early in the third.
GAME NOTEBOOK: The Clippers outscored the Pelicans 46-28 in the paint. … Paul has recorded three straight double-doubles and Jordan has pulled down 15 or more rebounds in 17 of his last 19 outings. … New Orleans C Omer Asik (calf) and SG Tyreke Evans (ankle) were inactive.