Rowan Kavner
LOS ANGELES – If DeAndre Jordan’s 20-20 streak is going to get snapped, it might as well be on a career-high night.
Jordan finished two rebounds short of a third straight game with at least 20 points and 20 rebounds, but he set a regular season career-high with 26 points while fighting through another night of Hack-A-DJ in a 119-115 Clippers’ (36-19) win against the Spurs (34-20).
“I just think he’s been showcasing his ability all year, honestly,” said head coach Doc Rivers. “Maybe people are noticing it more, I don’t know, but he’s been terrific. We’re not where we’re at record-wise if DJ’s not on our team, we know that.”
As Jordan continued to get going and the Spurs started falling behind, they began fouling him incessantly. He dominated in every aspect but the free-throw line, finishing 10-of-28 from the charity stripe and shooting five more free throws than the entire Spurs team.
It was the only answer they had for Jordan, who one time nearly dunked over Tim Duncan and later finished a throw-down over Marco Belinelli. Chris Paul said the fouling is a sign of respect.
“It’s one of the only ways you can stop him, or try to. He’s unbelievable,” Paul said. “He’s one of the most underappreciated people in the league.”
Jordan joked afterward he didn’t want to know how many free-throws he took or made, but he knows it’s something he’ll need to deal with, and it’s something he’s gotten used to.
“I just hate we can’t run and play,” Jordan said. “But it is a strategy. I don’t get upset anymore. I just try to embrace it.”
Jordan shot 14 free throws in less than a three-minute span in the middle of the fourth quarter before Rivers took out the star center momentarily. Rivers said there’s no science to that decision, he just has to go off of feel.
Despite the Spurs slowing the game down late, the Clippers managed to protect a small lead throughout the fourth quarter, thanks in large part to help from Paul and Jamal Crawford, who finished with 26 points.
Paul finished with 16 assists and 22 points, none bigger than the four points he had late on two buckets to stretch the lead back up to to three two different times in the last minute and a half. In between those shots, he assisted to Crawford in the corner for a 3-pointer in the corner to give the Clippers a four-point lead with 32 seconds left.
“Down the stretch, those two shots and trusting the pass, I love plays like that when your key guy gives up the ball to a teammate who makes a big shot,” Rivers said. “He did that for Jamal.”
A three-point lead went back down to two on a free throw from Manu Ginobili, but J.J. Redick sunk two game-clinching free throws to give the Clippers another four-point lead with six seconds remaining, which would be enough to bring the Clippers to 3-1 since losing Blake Griffin.
As slow as things got at times with the Jordan strategy in the fourth quarter, the third was anything but slow, as the Clippers made up a nine-point deficit in the quarter and went up by as many as four. Jordan played a major role, scoring 12 points in the quarter, including throwing down one of his multiple monster dunks in the game.
It was those plays, along with the energy of Glen Davis off the bench, that kept the crowd going all night in Staples Center, helping the Clippers win their third straight game. Davis provided a spark with 10 points and six rebounds.
“You could see the energy in the game,” Rivers said. “It was going to come.”
NOTES: Austin Rivers missed the game with a foot injury…Doc Rivers said the Clippers may need to make a roster move if he’s out for extended time, particularly considering Paul’s the only other point guard on the team … Doc Rivers said before the game, however, that the Clippers need to be careful about adding players when the team is in a good place … The Clippers shot 54.5 percent in the win … The Clippers went 2-2 against the Spurs this regular season … Doc Rivers said before the game he was happy for Kevin Garnett heading to Minnesota, adding, “If you’re a fan of the game, I think it’s really cool he’s going home. It’s where he started, and it’s where he’s going to end.”
