Clippers get even, rout Lakers
LOS ANGELES -- The Los Angeles Clippers returned their Christmas gift.
Three weeks after losing to the Los Angeles Lakers in the prime time holiday game, the Clippers handed the Lakers a 113-97 beating in the rematch Saturday afternoon at Staples Center.
The Lakers' win on Christmas Day was one of only two they had in 16 December games and ended an 11-game winning streak for the Clippers in the L.A. rivalry. But the Clippers were without Chris Paul and Blake Griffin due to injuries that day and lost J.J. Redick to a hamstring injury in mid-game.
Griffin remains out, recovering from knee surgery. But Paul and Redick were back at full strength for the rematch as the Clippers (28-14) extended their January win streak to six games. They have not lost since ending 2016 with a six-game losing streak.
The Lakers (15-29), meanwhile, have gone 3-4 in January after a 2-14 December.
The Clippers re-asserted their dominance in the rivalry quickly Saturday.
Even with Paul and Redick hitting just 4 of a combined 15 shots in the first half the Clippers got off to a 10-4 start, went on an 11-0 run later in the first quarter (with Austin Rivers scoring nine points in the opening period) and built a 19-point lead, 58-39, at halftime.
Clippers center DeAndre Jordan had a double-double by halftime (12 points and 10 rebounds) on his way to a big game. He finished with a game-high 24 points on 12 of 13 shooting (all within reach of the rim) and added 21 rebounds. It was his second 20-20 game of the season.
The Lakers made what amounted to their only move of the day at the start of the second half. With Brandon Ingram and Nick Young hitting back-to-back 3s, they started the third quarter with a 10-2 run that cut the Clippers lead to 11, 60-49. But the Clippers responded with a 7-1 run of their own and the Lakers were never as close again.
After his slow shooting start, Paul finished with 20 points and 13 assists for the Clippers. Austin Rivers and Raymond Felton finished with 15 points each.
For the Lakers, their best production came from the bench. Jordan Clarkson led them with 21 points. Ingram finished with 14 (11 in the third quarter).
In the Christmas Day win, however, they got 19 points each from Young and Timofey Mozgov. Those two combined for 19 in Saturday's loss.
NOTES: Saturday was only the third time since Staples Center opened in 2000 that the Lakers, Clippers and NHL's Los Angeles Kings all played in the building on the same day. After the Lakers and Clippers played in the afternoon, the arena was converted to hockey and the Kings were schedule to host the Winnipeg Jets at night. ... Lakers coach Luke Walton gave veteran forward Luol Deng the day off Saturday. It was the second time in the past six games Deng did not dress for the Lakers. In his past seven games, Deng is shooting 40 percent from the field and averaging 7.9 points per game. ... Clippers forward Blake Griffin went through a pregame workout without a sleeve or brace on his left knee. Griffin had surgery on Dec. 20 to remove loose bodies in the joint. Griffin's rehab has gone well and he could return before the end of January. ... Chargers owner Dean Spanos and his family were in attendance at Saturday's game. The Staples Center crowd booed when the new "Los Angeles Chargers" logo was shown on the video board during the first half.