Clippers 114, Celtics 90
LOS ANGELES -- Austin Rivers scored 16 points, and the Los Angeles Clippers rolled past the Boston Celtics 114-90 Monday night at Staples Center.
DeAndre Jordan and Jamal Crawford added 15 points apiece for the Clippers, who earned their third straight decision. Jordan also had 13 rebounds and three blocks in three quarters.
Chris Paul added 13 points and 14 assists, Wesley Johnson scored 11 points, and Jeff Green contributed 10 for Los Angeles (46-27).
Isaiah Thomas led Boston with 24 points, while Avery Bradley and Marcus Smart each scored 13. The Celtics (43-31) had their four-game winning streak snapped.
The Clippers' win was dampened by a leg injury to Paul Pierce. The former Celtics star, who scored eight points in 12 minutes, hurt himself with 2:06 left in the second quarter when he drove to the bucket as he was defended by Jared Sullinger. He slumped to the court after he landed at an awkward angle under the basket.
Pierce grabbed his right leg in obvious pain before he was helped to his feet by teammates. The initial diagnosis was Pierce sustained a sprained ankle and a knee contusion.
Pierce's departure occurred when the Clippers were completing a dominating second quarter that allowed them to bolt past the Celtics. They outscored Boston 37-26 in the second and turned a six-point advantage after the first quarter into a 67-50 halftime lead.
Los Angeles increased the margin to 92-70 heading into the final quarter.
Rivers scored 10 points in the second quarter.
Los Angeles shot 58.5 percent in the first half to only 37 percent for Boston. Overall, the Clippers made 52.4 percent of their shots to 34.8 percent for the Celtics. Los Angeles connected on 11 of 25 (44 percent) 3-point tries to seven of 19 (36.8 percent) for Boston.
The clubs split the season series. The Celtics won the initial meeting 139-134 in overtime at Boston.
NOTES: Clippers coach Doc Rivers addressed the matter of a March 14 tweet sent to PG Chris Paul threatening to kill his wife, Jada. The Los Angeles Police Department reportedly is investigating, according to the website TMZ Sports. "We take everything serious. We've had a couple of (threats) in the past, and it's just the way we live now," Rivers said. "You don't know what fans are actually threatening or not, but unfortunately in this day and time you have to take everything serious. It's the way it is, and it's too bad." ... Celtics F Jae Crowder missed his eighth game with a right ankle sprain. ... The Clippers visit the Minnesota Timberwolves on Wednesday. The Celtics resume their five-game road trip Thursday at the Portland Trail Blazers.