Griffin scores 37 as Clippers beat Kings 114-109
Blake Griffin scored 37 points (22 in the paint), and the LA Clippers beat the Sacramento Kings 114-109.
Griffin’s layup answered Rudy Gay’s 2 free throws and put the Clippers back ahead for good with 5:59 left in the fourth quarter.
The Kings got within 107-105 on Kosta Koufos’ tip-in with 1:46 to play, but JJ Redick answered with a free throw, and the Kings got no closer.
Redick’s 2 free throws with 8.6 seconds left made it 114-109 and put it away.
During clutch time, the Clippers outscored the Kings 13-6. Griffin scored 6 of the Clippers’ 13 on 2 for 3 shooting and 2 for 2 at the line. In the fourth quarter, Rajon Rondo had 2 steals, 1 of them during a 9-0 Kings run, and the Kings scored 4 points off them.
Redick scored 23 points on 8 for 9 shooting. Chris Paul assisted on 7 of Griffin’s 13 baskets.
For the Kings, Rondo had 21 points and 8 assists, and Gay added 20 points and 9 rebounds but shot 8 for 23.
The Clippers shot 51.3% from the field to the Kings’ 42.6%. The Kings outscored the Clippers 44-15 off the bench. The Clippers did not make a field goal in the last 3:03. The Clippers’ starters outscored the Kings 65-46 in 22 minutes together. Koufos fouled out.