Clippers capitalize on resting stars and rout Cavaliers
LOS ANGELES -- With the Cleveland Cavaliers playing without their Big Three of LeBron James, Kyrie Irving and Kevin Love, the Los Angeles Clippers took advantage.
Blake Griffin scored 23 points and collected eight rebounds in three quarters, and the Clippers snapped a three-game losing streak with a 108-78 victory over the short-handed Cavaliers on Saturday at Staples Center.
DeAndre Jordan had 13 points and 17 rebounds and J.J. Redick scored 16 points for the Clippers (41-29), who have a half-game lead over the Oklahoma City Thunder for the No. 5 seed in the Western Conference. Jamal Crawford also had 13 points while Chris Paul was held to five points on 0 of 8 shooting.
Cavaliers coach Tyronn Lue decided to sit LeBron James, Kyrie Irving and Kevin Love against the Clippers. However, all three are expected to play Sunday against the Los Angeles Lakers.
James missed his sixth game and Irving sat after not playing in the fourth quarter Thursday due to left knee tightness. Love returned from a 13-game absence following left knee surgery and is not cleared to play on consecutive nights.
In their places, Lue started Deron Williams, J.R. Smith, Iman Shumpert, Channing Frye and Tristan Thompson.
Richard Jefferson came off the bench to score a team-high 12 points for Cleveland (45-23), which has a 1 1/2-game lead over the Boston Celtics for the top spot in the Eastern Conference.
Thompson and Williams scored 11 points each, while Shumpert, Frye and Smith scored 10 points apiece as Cleveland shot 38.8 percent and a season-worst 18.5 percent from 3-point range.
It took more than a quarter for the Clippers' offense to flow. They trailed the Cavaliers 16-14 after one period, managing just two points during the final seven minutes.
Los Angeles used a 13-0 run in the second for a 37-24 edge after two foul shots by Paul with 2:44 remaining. The Clippers held a 47-31 advantage at the break and led by as many as 32.
The Cavaliers got no closer than 10 the rest of the way.
NOTES: Clippers coach Doc Rivers denied an ESPN report that speculated he might return to the Orlando Magic, the club that gave him his first NBA coaching job. "I can tell you I had a past with the Magic, but I have no future. My future is here," Rivers said. ... Cavaliers G Kyle Korver (sore left foot) missed his sixth straight game. Korver worked on his shooting before the game. ... Cleveland recalled G Kay Felder from the Canton Charge of the NBA Development League. Felder scored 10 points in 15 minutes against the Clippers. ... The Clippers host the New York Knicks on Monday.