Clippers continue to dominate Pistons
LOS ANGELES -- Chris Paul had 24 points, eight assists and six rebounds, and the Los Angeles Clippers crushed the Detroit Pistons 114-82 on Monday night at Staples Center.
J.J. Redick scored 20 points for the Clippers (6-1), who beat the Pistons for the 11th consecutive time. It matched the worst beatdown issued by the Clippers over the Pistons, tying a 129-97 rout on March 10, 2013.
Blake Griffin had 13 points, 10 rebounds and nine assists for Los Angeles (6-1), which won its third straight overall. Griffin closed within five boards of 4,000 for his career.
Clippers guards Austin Rivers and Ray Felton came off the bench to score 11 and 10 points, respectively.
The Clippers' starters sat out the fourth quarter.
Andre Drummond scored 15 points and grabbed 12 rebounds for the Pistons (4-3), while Tobias Harris finished with 12 points. Reserves Jon Leuer and Stanley Johnson had 11 points for Detroit.
The Pistons entered the game as the No. 2 scoring defense in the NBA behind the Clippers (90.7 points per game). Detroit limited opponents to 93 points per game in its six previous outings, but the Clippers exceeded that total in three quarters, finishing the period leading 91-55.
The Clippers, who led by as much as 43 points, roared to a 33-15 advantage after one quarter. It was the most points Detroit allowed in a quarter this season. It got no better for the Pistons. A 10-0 run by the Clippers to end the half pushed the margin to 62-32 at the break.
Paul scored 16 points in the first half by hitting 5 of 6 shots from the floor and all three of his 3-pointers. The Clippers shot 53.8 percent to 32.5 percent for the Pistons by intermission. From 3-point range, Los Angeles made 7 of 12 attempts (58.3 percent), five of those in the second quarter, to only 1 of 5 (20 percent) for Detroit.
Overall, the Clippers outshot the Pistons 53.9 percent to 36.6 percent. Los Angeles hit 13 of 25 (52 percent) of its 3-pointers to 4 of 12 (33.3 percent) for Detroit.
NOTES: Pistons coach Stan Van Gundy said the club's current road trip will provide him a grasp of how good it is. "It is still really early and we've been very good at home and not good on the road so far, so I think this trip will be a big test to see actually if this is something we can sustain," Van Gundy said of the Pistons, winners of four of their last six games. The Pistons visit the Phoenix Suns on Wednesday followed by stops at San Antonio (Friday) and Denver (Saturday). ... Clippers coach Doc Rivers praised the play of reserve F/C Marreese Speights, who was averaging 10 points entering Monday. He wound up with seven points against the Pistons. "He's been better than advertised for me," Rivers said. ... Los Angeles hosts the Portland Trail Blazers on Wednesday.