Rowan Kavner
Score: TOR 112 - LAC 94
TORONTO – As fast as the Clippers got out to a 13-point lead Sunday in Toronto, they watched it turn into a 14-point deficit faster.
The starters played their part, with all of them on the positive side of the plus-minus, but it was a night to forget for the reserves, as the Raptors (29-15) took advantage every time Chris Paul, J.J. Redick and DeAndre Jordan left the floor in a 112-94 loss, marking the Clippers (28-16) largest margin of defeat this season.
The Raptors outscored the Clippers, 8-4, to end the first quarter once Paul left the game. It only got worse from there, as the Raptors outscored the Clippers, 35-15, in the second quarter, at one point stretching out a 25-3 run. The Clippers went 4-for-15 in the quarter with eight turnovers, while the Raptors went 15-for-25 from the floor.
Next Game: 1/26
Tipoff: 4:00pm PDT
Paul, who finished with 23 points and 11 assists, and Redick, who added 17 points, were both plus-10 for the game. Every Clippers backup who played at least 10 minutes, meanwhile, finished minus-25 or worse.
By the 5:47 mark in the second quarter, the Clippers’ early 32-19 lead had become a 54-40 deficit. The Clippers trailed by double digits the rest of the first half, but things got interesting when the starters returned coming out of halftime, beginning the third quarter on a 15-6 run.
DeAndre Jordan received a pass from Paul Pierce, making the shot and absorbing the foul to get the Clippers within four points, but they wouldn’t get closer than that the rest of the night, as four different Raptors backups each poured in at least 10 points.
Key Moment: When the Clippers cut the deficit to four in the third, it seemed despite the disastrous second quarter they’d have a chance. Then came five straight points from Kyle Lowry, and it seemed like it took seconds for the Clippers to go back to trailing by double digits.
Clippers Star: Chris Paul – As he’s been so often throughout the month, Paul was the catalyst for the Clippers’ offense. Unfortunately, Doc Rivers couldn’t play him 48 minutes. Paul increased his already season-high January numbers, entering the game averaging 21.1 points and 11.6 assists this month.
Raptors Star: Kyle Lowry –He’ll be the East’s starting point guard when Toronto hosts the All-Star Game, and he showed why Sunday with 21 points and six assists.
X-Factor: DeMar Derozan – Derozan was only 6-for-17, but he seemed to make his six buckets count. Derozan posted 18 points and five assists.
Quotes:
Austin Rivers – “We’re all in the minus like that, it’s crazy. I don’t think I’ve ever had a minus-20 something in my career. It’s just one of those games.”
Doc Rivers– “It’s rare when you lose by 18 points and your starters all have a plus. That doesn’t happen very often. Our bench has been good, but tonight they were awful.”
Chris Paul – “it’s not about the first unit or the second unit. It’s about our team. There are nights the starters have come out and haven’t played well and the second unit has brought us back. I told us after the game we just have to find a way to put it all together.”
NOTES: The win was the Raptors’ fourth in a row against the Clippers and eighth in a row overall … DeAndre Jordan added 15 points and 13 rebounds … Nine of the Clippers’ 13 turnovers came from the backups … Jeff Ayres made his Clippers’ debut, scoring his first two points as a Clippers with two made free throws late in the fourth quarter … Lance Stephenson went 4-for-4 with eight points off the bench, marking his most makes without a miss this season and his most points in a month … Blake Griffin (quad) missed his 13th straight game … The Clippers fell to 1-2 on the five-game road trip and now travel to Indiana …