Paul, Griffin carry Clippers past Raptors
LOS ANGELES -- Chris Paul and Blake Griffin scored 26 points apiece, and the Los Angeles Clippers held off the Toronto Raptors 123-115 Monday night at Staples Center.
Paul also had 12 assists as the Clippers (13-2), who own the best record in the NBA, ended a four-game losing streak to the Raptors. Griffin added seven rebounds and six assists. All five Los Angeles starters reached double figures, including DeAndre Jordan, who finished with 17 points and 15 rebounds. Jordan went 9 of 14 on free throws to top 1,000 made in his career.
J.J. Redick had 20 points for the Clippers.
Kyle Lowry had 27 points, seven assists and six rebounds, and DeMar DeRozan added 25 points and seven assists for the Raptors (8-6), who have lost four of their last five. Jonas Valanciunas chipped in 15 points and eight rebounds for Toronto.
The Raptors, who trailed by as much as 15, closed within 100-96 after a 3-pointer by Patrick Patterson, who had 14 points off the bench with 5:54 left, but the Clippers increased the deficit to double figures before Toronto made it a five-point game late.
The Clippers used a third-quarter surge to command briefly. After Lowery's 3-pointer cut the gap to 68-62 with 6:48 left in the quarter, the Clippers went on a 13-3 surge for an 81-65 advantage after a free throw by Jordan with 3:34 remaining. However, an 8-2 Raptors' run to close the period sliced the margin to 88-79 heading into the final period.
Three Redick foul shots gave the Clippers a 54-45 lead at the break. The Clippers used their 3-point shooting largely to gain an edge, converting 7 of 17 attempts (41.2 percent) to 2 of 8 (25 percent).
For the game, the Clippers hit 10 of 25 (40 percent) to 8 of 19 (42.1 percent) from long distance.
Raptors forward DeMarre Carroll was given the night off to rest with this being the second end of back-to-backs.
Clippers forward Wesley Johnson returned after missing the past five games with a left heel contusion. Johnson failed to score in 12 minutes.
NOTES: Clippers coach Doc Rivers said the Raptors got a raw deal in their controversial loss to the Sacramento Kings on Sunday. The officials waved off a score-tying shot by Toronto's Terrence Ross at the contest's end, saying the game clock had expired after a lengthy review. "I don't think you should be able to look at the clock and do that. That's awful," Rivers said. Raptors coach Dwane Casey, who was livid after the game, said he heard from league officials but refuse divulge any of the details. "I received (a response) and that's probably all I'm going to say about it," said Casey, adding that the club's front office will handle any further discussions. ... Both clubs resume play Wednesday. The Raptors conclude their four-game journey at the Houston Rockets, while the Clippers open a six-game road trip Wednesday at the Dallas Mavericks.