Chris Paul had 20 points and a season-high 20 assists and the Los Angeles Clippers beat the New Orleans Pelicans 133-105 on Saturday night with their highest offensive output of the season.
It was the first 20-20 game of Paul's career, and he's the first player since at least 1977-78 — when turnovers were first recorded for individuals — to have 20 points, 20 assists and ZERO turnovers, according to the Elias Sports Bureau.
"The turnovers means more to me," Paul said immediately after hearing of his record. "That's the first thing I look at after every game. As a point guard I'm like the quarterback and a turnover is like an interception, so with the offensive power we have, anytime I commit a turnover it's a blown opportunity."
The Clippers shot a season-best 57.4 percent from the field and made a season-high 17 3-pointers on 36 attempts to snap a two-game skid.
"I didn't know that, thank you for the history lesson," a shocked Doc Rivers said about hearing of Paul's record. "Visually it looked beautiful. CP was great. All of them were great."
Jamal Crawford scored 22 points and DeAndre Jordan had 19 points and nine rebounds for Los Angeles, which won for only the third time in eight games after opening the season 14-2. Austin Rivers had 18 points and J.J. Redick had 16.
"We've seen CP [Chris Paul] have high assist numbers, but to see him have no turnovers is pretty huge," said DeAndre Jordan of his teammates accomplishment.
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The Pelicans, playing without resting Anthony Davis, lost their fifth straight. New Orleans gave up its season-high in points and has lost three consecutive road games, falling to 2-9 away from home.
Tim Frazier scored 20 points to lead New Orleans. Chuck Diallo added 19 points and Terrence Jones had 18.
The Clippers led 61-55 at halftime, and then broke the game open with an 18-6 run over the opening 4:29 of the third quarter. Rivers hit a pair of 3-pointers and capped the stretch with a lefty layup off the glass, giving the Clippers 79-61 lead.
This was the Clippers' eighth consecutive victory over the Pelicans at Staples Center, a streak dating to 2012.
NO A-D
The Pelicans elected to rest Davis, the NBA's leading scorer with 31.4 points per game. He had averaged 44 minutes over his previous three games.
"I think he just needs to take the day off," Pelicans coach Alvin Gentry said.
Through Friday night, Davis had averaged a league-leading 38.1 minutes per game.
RIVERS RUN THROUGH
Rivers took a hard elbow to the jaw from a driving Jones with 4:22 left in the third quarter. Rivers returned late in the quarter, tried to play in the fourth, but had to be helped from the court early in the final quarter. He was taken to the locker room to be evaluated by team physicians, according to the Clippers.
3,000 AND COUNTING
Saturday's game marked announcer Ralph Lawler's 3,000th regular season Clippers television broadcast. Lawler joins Al McCoy (Phoenix) and George Blaha (Detroit) as the only active NBA play-by-play announcers to call 3,000+ games with one team.
TIP-INS
Pelicans: Guards Jrue Holiday and E'Twaun Moore were not available Saturday night, both dealing with turf toe. Each missed his third consecutive game.
Clippers: Blake Griffin sat out his second game of the season after injuring his right knee against Golden State on Wednesday night. "It's nothing," Clippers coach Doc Rivers said. "He'll play Monday." ... Austin Rivers made his first start of the season in Griffin's place. Guard Raymond Felton missed his second consecutive game because of personal reasons.
UP NEXT
Pelicans: At the 76ers on Sunday night.
Clippers: Host the Trail Blazers on Monday night.
