• Preview
• Recap
• Bleachers
• Game Tracker

Clippers set for challenge versus Raptors

Dec 27, 2014 - 4:01 PM (SportsNetwork.com) - The Los Angeles Clippers will try for a second consecutive win to open a nine-game homestand on Saturday afternoon, but they'll face a stiff challenge from the Eastern Conference-leading Toronto Raptors.

Los Angeles still has the Utah Jazz, New York Knicks, Philadelphia 76ers, Atlanta Hawks, Los Angeles Lakers, Dallas Mavericks and Miami Heat on this residency.

The Clips began this stay with a 100-86 Christmas night win over their bitter rivals, the NBA's best team, the Golden State Warriors.

Jamal Crawford scored half of his 24 points in the final quarter, and the Clippers overcame a sluggish start. The Clippers went 4-of-24 from the field in the opening quarter and shot 27.7 percent over the first 24 minutes, but went ahead for good with nearly 4 1/2 minutes left in the third and dominated the fourth.

Chris Paul provided 22 points and Blake Griffin chipped in 18 with 15 rebounds and six assists for the Clippers, who began a franchise-record homestand by snapping a two-game skid. They've won eight in a row at home.

"Jamal came in and picked up our slack," Griffin said. "After shooting 27 percent in the first half we were down by only one. We kept the faith. It was a great win."

DeAndre Jordan scored 14 points to go with 12 rebounds in the win, as the Clippers got revenge for a 121-104 loss in Oakland on Nov. 5.

"It's nice to beat them because they're good," Clippers coach Doc Rivers said. "We're better mentally than when we played them last time."

The Raptors started a six-game sojourn with a loss in Chicago.

They'll visit the Denver Nuggets, Portland Trail Blazers, Warriors and Phoenix Suns on this odyssey.

On Monday, the Toronto defense didn't show up in a 129-120 loss at the United Center.

Kyle Lowry tallied 34 points and six boards, while Jonas Valanciunas added 20 points and nine rebounds for Toronto, which had its six-game winning streak snapped.

Terrence Ross finished with 17 points, followed by 16 from James Johnson and 12 apiece from Lou Williams and Patrick Patterson.

"I thought our defensive attention to detail wasn't there," Raptors coach Dwane Casey said.

The Bulls, who trailed by as many as 12 in the second half, pulled away in the fourth by outscoring the Raptors 49-37. The game was tied 95-95 just prior to the midway point of the frame before Chicago went on an 18-8 run over the next 4:48.

The Raptors committed only eight turnovers, but allowed the Bulls to shoot 54.1 percent from the field and 50 percent from long range. Chicago shot a whopping 43-for-47 from the free-throw line.

The Clippers have won two in a row and five out of six against the Raptors. LA has taken four straight as the host in this series.