Clippers 113, Wizards 97
WASHINGTON -- Point guard Chris Paul efficiently dominated throughout with 38 points and 12 assists as the Los Angeles Clippers capped their lengthy road trip by hammering the Washington Wizards 113-97 on Saturday night.
Paul made 11 of 14 field goals, including 5 of 7 3-pointers, and went 11 of 11 from the free throw line for the Clippers (16-9). He had 18 points and nine assists in the first half then pushed aside an attempted rally by Washington with 14 points in the fourth quarter.
Los Angeles concluded its seven-game, 13-day trip with a 4-3 record. The Clippers did not face a team with a .500 or better record on the trip. Guard Jamal Crawford scored 17 points, and center DeAndre Jordan had 15 points and 10 rebounds.
Point guard John Wall led the Wizards (9-13) with 24 points and 12 assists. Since reaching .500 on Dec. 2, Washington has lost four straight, the previous three by a combined seven points and twice in overtime.
Los Angeles passed its way to a 13-point halftime lead, dunked plenty for a 23-point margin and maintained a double-digit cushion throughout the second half. The Clippers shot 56.6 percent from the field, with eight dunks, and all five starters scored in double figures. Forwards Blake Griffin and Jared Dudley each scored 16 points.
Washington played its third straight game and sixth this season without power forward Nene (right foot tendinitis). The Wizards have lost all of those games and eight straight without the Brazilian big man dating back to last season.
The Clippers made 26 of 31 free throws (83.9 percent) and 9 of 21 (42.9 percent) from beyond the arc before the crowd of 16,509.
Trailing 87-66 with three minutes remaining in the third quarter, the Wizards pulled within 12 on multiple occasions, including at 95-83 on forward Martell Webster's jumper with 8:07 left. Paul countered with two jumpers, an assist on Griffin's dunk and his fourth 3-pointer, pushing the lead back to a comfortable 104-86.
Center Kevin Seraphin reached double figures for the first time this season with 16 points for the Wizards. Forward Trevor Booker and Webster each added 12 points.
Paul conquered from the start, his imprint felt throughout the game. He had 10 points and six assists in the first quarter as the Clippers shot 61.9 percent (13 of 21) for a 34-28 lead. In the second quarter, Paul scored or assisted on 12 of Los Angeles' final 14 points as the Clippers led 59-46 at halftime. Los Angeles had 17 assists on 21 baskets in the half.
NOTES: Clippers SG and sixth man Jamal Crawford made his first start since April 9, 2012. ... Washington entered averaging a league-low 18.9 bench points. ... Clippers G Chris Paul and Wizards G John Wall rank first and second, respectively, in assists, third and fourth in steals. ... Wall averaged 22.0 points and 10.5 assists in his previous 10 home games. ... Los Angeles has another seven-game road trip from Jan. 17 to Jan. 27 before returning home for a rematch with Washington on Jan. 29. ... The Wizards open a four-game road trip at the New York Knicks on Monday. ... Los Angeles returns home to host the San Antonio Spurs on Monday.
