Nov 24, 2015; Denver, CO, USA; Los Angeles Clippers forward Blake Griffin (32) guards Denver Nuggets guard Emmanuel Mudiay (0) in the fourth quarter at the Pepsi Center. Isaiah J. Downing-USA TODAY Sports
DENVER — Center DeAndre Jordan had 18 points and 11 rebounds, forward Blake Griffin also had a double-double with 18 points and 10 rebounds and the Los Angeles Clippers beat the Denver Nuggets 111-94 on Tuesday night.
Guard Chris Paul had 15 points and 10 assists and guard J.J. Redick had 12 of his 16 points in the first half. The Clippers (7-7) had lost three straight.
Forward Danilo Gallinari led Denver (6-9) with 20 points and a career-high 18 rebounds, all on the defensive end. Center Nikola Jokic added 16 points.
Guard Jamal Crawford had four points until late in the third quarter when his 3-pointer from halfcourt beat the buzzer to end L.A. an 83-72 lead.
He stayed hot at the start of the fourth. He hit two free throws, another 3-pointer and a jumper from the top of the key to extend the Clippers’ lead to 90-76 with 9:50 remaining.
He finished with 15 points.
Guard Gary Harris and Randy Foye hit 3-pointers to pull the Nuggets within 10 and Denver started fouling Jordan.
Jordan was 7-for-16 from the line in the fourth quarter but Denver didn’t make enough shots to take advantage.
Jordan, who finished with four blocked shots, put an exclamation point on his night when he slammed home a pass from Paul that made it 110-93.
Griffin, coming off a season-low nine points against Toronto on Sunday, missed 10 of his first 13 shots but got rolling when he hit a desperation 3-pointer that beat the shot clock. He hit his next two shots to put the Clippers ahead 71-60 midway through the third.
He then fed center Jordan on an alley-oop after a Denver basket.
Griffin reached double figures in rebounds for the first time in seven games.
Gallinari 11 points and 10 rebounds by halftime but Paul’s 12 points and five assists helped the Clippers take a 51-45 lead at the break.
NOTES: Denver F Kenneth Faried missed his second straight game with a left ankle sprain. Faried was in a walking boot Tuesday morning and didn’t go through the team’s shootaround. … The Clippers were one game below .500 entering Tuesday’s game. The only other time they were under .500 during coach Doc Rivers’ two-plus seasons was after his first game with the team. … Nuggets C Joffrey Lauvergne has started running but continues to sit with a lower back strain. He is expected to have a bigger role in practice Wednesday with the hopes of returning soon. … The Clippers rank 29th in 3-point percentage and 26th in rebounding.
