Clippers down Mavs for fourth consecutive win
LOS ANGELES -- Blake Griffin scored 32 points and J.J. Redick added 25 as the Los Angeles Clippers defeated the Dallas Mavericks 112-101 Wednesday.
Los Angeles (48-31) won its fourth straight game and eighth in the past 10 to pull within a half-game of the Jazz (48-30) for fourth place in the Western Conference.
The win kept the Clippers 2 1/2 games ahead of the sixth-place Oklahoma City Thunder (45-33).
Los Angeles guard Chris Paul registered 22 points and 11 assists, and DeAndre Jordan posted his 38th double-double of the season with 11 points and 20 rebounds.
Dallas (32-46) lost its second straight game and ended its five-game road trip with a 1-4 record. Harrison Barnes scored 15 points, and J.J. Barea and Yogi Ferrell scored 14 apiece.
Los Angeles shot 50.7 percent (38 of 75) while Dallas converted 44.2 percent (38 of 86).
The Clippers maintained a double-digit lead for most of the first half, taking a 62-49 advantage into the break. Redick led a balanced attack with 18 points, including four 3-pointers. Los Angeles shot 60 percent (24 of 41) while Dallas converted just 42.9 percent, including 3 of 14 from 3-point range.
The Mavericks drew to within 73-67 with an 18-11 run to open the third quarter, but that was as close as they got after a strategic timeout by Clippers coach Doc Rivers.
Los Angeles continued to shred the Dallas defense to extend its lead to 90-73 after three quarters.
NOTES: Dallas welcomed two starters back into the lineup. F Dirk Nowitzki (sore right Achilles) and G Wesley Matthews (rest) missed the 98-87 loss in Sacramento on Monday. G Seth Curry (left shoulder) was ruled out just before game time and missed his third straight game. ... The Mavericks return home Saturday to face the San Antonio Spurs. ... The Clippers travel to San Antonio on Saturday for a nationally televised game before returning home to finish the season against Houston and Sacramento. ... Los Angeles C Diamond Stone missed his 23rd straight game with a left knee bone bruise, and PG Austin Rivers sat out due to a hamstring injury that is expected to sideline him until sometime during the first round of the playoffs.