Rowan Kavner
Score: LAC 122 – CHA 117
CHARLOTTE – Former Duke Blue Devils J.J. Redick and Austin Rivers are used to playing in North Carolina.
On Wednesday in Charlotte, they looked like they were at home.
Next Game: 12/31
Tipoff: 5:00pm PDT
Redick and Rivers combined for 48 points as the Clippers (20-13) won their fourth straight game, leading the entire way in a 122-117 victory against the Hornets (17-14).
Rivers, in his second game back from a sprained ankle, sparked the bench unit with 22 points on 7-of-11 shooting without committing a turnover.
Redick started 5-for-5 from 3-point range and finished the night 8-for-14 with 26 points in front of friends, family and even his favorite Duke professor. Chris Paul, a North Carolina native, posted 19 points, 11 assists and five rebounds back in front of family in his home state, where he said it’s always fun to return.
It’s even more fun for him when his team leads the whole game. Every time the Hornets would threaten to cut into the Clippers’ lead, getting it within a point or two, the Clippers had an answer.
When the Hornets cut the Clippers’ lead to 74-72 in the third quarter, Redick came up with a 3-pointer. When the Hornets cut the Clippers’ lead to 83-81 later in the quarter, Pablo Prigioni hit a 3-pointer. They’d go on another run in the fourth quarter when the Hornets cut the lead to one at 94-93.
The Clippers shot 50 percent from deep and made 15 3-pointers on the night. From the jump, it appeared it would be one of those nights.
Paul Pierce started the game with back-to-back 3-pointers to open up a 6-0 lead which quickly increased to 13-3. When the Hornets cut the lead down to six, Doc Rivers went with the three-guard backup lineup he liked against the Wizards, and it paid off on the offensive end.
Rivers hit back-to-back 3-pointers the first minute he entered the game to extend the Clippers’ lead back to double digits, but the Hornets would threaten again in the second quarter. A 10-point Clippers lead got down to a point, but Brian Roberts missed a 3-pointer with a chance to give Charlotte its first lead.
That would be as close as the Hornets would come in the first half, as the Clippers followed with a 7-0 run, much like they did the rest of the night.
Key Moment: The Hornets cut the Clippers’ lead to 94-93 early in the fourth quarter, but the backups made sure that’s as close as they’d get. Wesley Johnson hit a shot, Jamal Crawford hit a 3-pointer and the Clippers went on a 14-3 run to put Charlotte away, finished off by five straight points from Rivers.
Clippers Star: J.J. Redick – His first 3-pointer of the night was a desperation shot as the shot clock winded down, yet it still went through. It was that kind of night for Redick, who started 5-for-5 from 3-point range and scored at least 20 points for the fifth time this month.
Hornets Star: Kemba Walker – Walker’s hot stretch continued with 29 points and seven assists. Walker hit a big 3-pointer as the buzzer sounded to end the third quarter to put Charlotte in striking distance early in the fourth quarter. Walker’s speed presented issues and got him to the foul line, where he was 9-for-9.
X-Factor: Austin Rivers – He scored 22 points in just 20 minutes without committing a turnover. It was Rivers’ second game back after spraining his ankle, and he said he only needed one game to find his rhythm. He said he was sore, but he feels 100 percent back. Chris Paul said he could see in Rivers’ face before the game how focused the backup guard was.
Quotes:
J.J. Redick – “The biggest takeaway the last three games has just been other guys kind of getting opportunities and taking advantage of that, specifically Pablo and Cole. Those guys weren’t in the rotation five or six days ago, and they’ve been fantastic.”
Doc Rivers – “We got off to that great start again like the other night. They kept making runs. I thought our bench was phenomenal tonight. They were good in the first half, but in the second half to come in when they had cut the lead and then stretch it was huge for us. We just made timely plays.
Chris Paul – “Our second unit’s energy gave us a chance to rest a lot in the fourth quarter, and J.J. was amazing tonight. Just a great team win.”
Notes: The Clippers won their third straight game without Blake Griffin … The Hornets were playing without Al Jefferson, Jeremy Lin and Spencer Hawes … Paul Pierce hit three first-half 3-pointers, including one to beat the buzzer heading into halftime … Chris Paul presented rings to his AAU team before the game, which he said meant a lot and was just a token of his appreciation … DeAndre Jordan finished with 13 points and 13 rebounds… Cole Aldrich continued to be part of the backup rotation, scoring seven points…Crawford recorded a four-point play among his 11 points on the night … The Clippers now travel to New Orleans for the second game of a back-to-back …