LOS ANGELES – Chris Paul had 25 points, DeAndre Jordan added 19 rebounds and the Los Angeles Clippers won their 8th consecutive game, 97-83 over the Charlotte Hornets on Saturday afternoon at Staples Center.
HOW IT HAPPENED
The Clippers tipped-off for a rare afternoon game at Staples Center and rushed out to an early lead behind Chris Paul and J.J. Redick, who scored a combined 19 points in the first quarter to give the Clippers a nine-point lead.
The Hornets came storming back in the second quarter as Jeremy Lamb and Jeremy Lin also combined to score 19 points. The Clippers looked stagnant and stale heading into the locker room trailing by three.
Paul and DeAndre Jordan led the Clippers out of the gates in the second half, and quickly turned a three-point deficit into a six-point lead.
"I knew we had to come out aggressive to start the third quarter," Chris Paul said. "Paul [Pierce] was saying in the locker room, 'let's come out and jump on them.' 'Let's be up 10 going into the fourth.' It's all he was saying during halftime."
Los Angeles would increase the lead to double-digits in the fourth quarter and closed the door down the stretch.
Paul finished with 25 points, 7 rebounds and 6 assists to lead the Clippers. Jordan had 11 points and a game-high 19 rebounds. Jamal Crawford added 19 points off the bench.
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Spencer Hawes scored seven points for the Hornets against his former team. Hawes was traded by General Manager/Head Coach Doc Rivers in the offseason along with Matt Barnes for Lance Stephenson.
Stephenson did not see the court against his former team as he and Josh Smith continue to be in the coach's doghouse for their on the court decision making.
Jeremy Lin and Jeremy Lamb led the Hornets with 26 and 18 points respectively.
TURNING POINT
Chris Paul came out with a vengeance at the start of the third quarter and quickly tuned a three-point deficit into a six-point lead. He finished the quarter with seven points.
MVP OF THE GAME
Chris Paul. CP3 controlled the game from the opening tip, and when the Clippers went down by three points at halftime, he single-handedly led the charge in the second half as the Clippers regained the lead and never relinquished it.
STAT OF THE NIGHT
Jamal Crawford scored 19 points off the bench, the 268th time he has scored at least 15 points in a reserve role. That leads all active players in the NBA.
TWEET OF THE NIGHT
"Watch: Kemba Gets a Taste of the Truth" via @TeamStream. #NBA. #Clippers. https://t.co/mKQ018XfvN — Zack (@QueensIceZ) January 9, 2016
Kemba, you can't handle the truth!
PHOTO OF THE NIGHT
That @JCrossover jumper tho. �� pic.twitter.com/sBr093znng — LA Clippers (@LAClippers) January 9, 2016
J-Crossover with the jumper at the buzzer to close the first quarter.
QUOTE OF THE NIGHT
"I like these early games, you get the rest of the day to go watch football." – Clippers point guard Chris Paul on playing at 12:30PM.
NOTES
Blake Griffin missed his seventh consecutive game with a torn left quadriceps.
Michael Kidd-Gilchrist, Al Jefferson and Aaron Harrison all missed the game with injures for the Hornets.
RECORD
Charlotte Hornets (17-19, 4-12 on the road) 4th in Southeast Division.
Los Angeles Clippers (24-13, 12-6 at home) 2nd in Pacific Division.
WHAT'S NEXT?
Charlotte continues their four-game road trip as they travel to Denver to take on the Nuggets tomorrow on the second night of a back-to-back.
The Clippers will return to Staples Center in less than 24 hours to host the New Orleans Pelicans tomorrow afternoon.
