Clippers rout slumping Bulls
(The Sports Xchange) - Jamal Crawford came off the bench to score 26 points and help the Los Angeles Clippers to a blowout 120-93 win over the Chicago Bulls on Sunday at Staples Center. J.J. Redick scored 21 points on 7-of-11 shooting, hitting all four of his three-pointers, Chris Paul had 19 points and seven assists and DeAndre Jordan added 17 points, 20 rebounds and four blocks for the Clippers (32-16), who captured their fourth straight win. Jimmy Butler had 23 points and Derrick Rose contributed 20 for the Bulls (26-20), who have dropped four of their last six games. Pau Gasol chipped in 15 points and 14 rebounds. A 12-4 Clippers surge to open the fourth quarter doomed the Bulls. A three-pointer by Wesley Johnson, who had 11 points, gave the Clippers a 95-77 cushion less than two minutes into the period. The Bulls were unable to reduce the deficit under double figures the rest of the way. Los Angeles benefited from their three-point shooting to split the season series with Chicago, who recorded an 83-80 win on Dec. 10. The Clippers connected on 17 of 32 three-pointers compared to five of 15 for the Bulls. Los Angeles prevailed despite Chicago's 56-36 edge on points in the paint. The Clippers improved to 15-3 without injured forward Blake Griffin (broken hand). The Clippers took a 51-47 lead at the break, largely on the strength of their bench, which outscored Chicago's reserves 29-11. Crawford led all scorers with 12 first-half points. In the third quarter, the Clippers took control, building a 79-68 advantage after a dunk by Jordan with 1:53 remaining in the quarter. The Bulls closed within 79-73 on a three-pointer by Butler with 48.3 seconds left, but another by Austin Rivers and a jumper by Crawford put Los Angeles up 84-73 heading into the final quarter. Bulls guard Kirk Hinrich returned after missing six games with a left quad contusion. He was scoreless in 11 minutes. (Editing by Peter Rutherford)
