LOS ANGELES, CA-The BIG going into Monday night’s game against the Detroit Pistons was which Los Angeles Clippers team would take the floor at Staples Center. Clippers fans knew the answer when Blake Griffin set up a pair of alley-oop dunks by DeAndre Jordan, just over a minute apart, capping a 16-4 run that turned a one-point deficit into a 47-36 lead with 4:41 left in the second quarter. The real Clippers (17-7) came out on fire and claimed a 113-91 victory over the Pistons (5-20).
I guess having good home cooked meals does has its advantages.
The Clippers pulled away in the second half and allowed some valuable rest for the starters. Griffin led the team with 18 points, 7 rebounds and 7 assists in only 31 minutes of play. The other big spark on the night was reserve guard Jordan Farmer, who poured in 15 big points at key situations to make sure the Pistons did not make a run to catch them. Doc Rivers was very happy with the teams ball movement on offense as the Clippers put up 35 assists on 43 field goals made, shooting 53.8 percent from the floor and 50 percent from 3-point range, as six different players hit from deep.
Pistons coach Stan Van Gundy agreed, “They shot the ball very well, moved the ball very well, and we could not keep up. They totally tore our defense apart.”
Jodie Meeks was the Pistons leading scorer with 20 points as he connected on three, 3-point shots on the night. Center Andre Drummond had 18 points and grabbed 13 rebounds, and Greg Monroe dropped in 15 points, 8 rebounds. The Pistons big men kept the game close in the first half ,boxing out for good position for rebound and second chance points. The rest of the starters were held under double-digits for scoring. Detroit star Brandon Jennings had 6 points, 6 assists and one steal, not much of a homecoming for former Compton Dominguez High School star.
The Clippers get one more home game on this trip-Wednesday night against Indiana Pacers (8-17) at Staples Center. On the Clippers day off Dec. 16, the team will be spreading some Christmas joy to kids in Southern California. DeAndre Jordan is donating two basketball rims to a local charter school; Chris Paul teamed up with actor/comedian Kevin Hart for a bunch of kids to have a shopping spree at Toys R Us, and Jamal Crawford is having a gift boxes giveaway event in Compton. Just a little bit of the good things we don’t always hear about from the pro athletes.
Jevone Moore a writer, photographer by trade and a coach in life at heart. Former UCLA Bruin football player during the good years, City Champs 92-95.