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Clippers complete home-and-home sweep of Kings

Apr 8, 2012 - 5:41 AM Los Angeles, CA (Sports Network) - Blake Griffin scored 27 points and pulled down 14 rebounds as the Los Angeles Clippers closed out a home-and-home sweep of the Sacramento Kings with a 109-94 victory at Staples Center.

The Clippers earned a 93-85 win on Thursday behind 20 points by Randy Foye.

Foye finished with 25 points on Saturday, while Chris Paul added 19 points, 15 assists and seven steals for Los Angeles, which won for the eighth time in nine games.

Also with the win, the Clippers moved to a half game behind the Lakers for the top spot in the Pacific Division after the Lakers lost to Phoenix on Saturday.

DeMarcus Cousins paced Sacramento with 15 points and 20 rebounds, and Tyreke Evans finished with 14 points in the Kings' third straight loss.

Francisco Garcia recorded 13 points for Sacramento before leaving the game early in the fourth quarter with a concussion.

Sacramento trailed, 56-51, heading into the third quarter before Caron Butler opened the frame with a jumper that was followed by a Foye three-pointer to stretch Los Angeles' lead up to double digits before Sacramento reeled off eight straight points to get within two, 61-59.

The Clippers managed to extend their lead back up to seven before Garcia capped a 9-2 spurt with a three-pointer to bring the Kings back within one, 72-71, with less than three minutes left in the third.

But Foye answered with a triple at the other end to keep Los Angeles on top and spark a 10-3 spurt to close out the third that gave them an 82-74 lead heading into the fourth quarter.

Sacramento never threatened again as the Clippers held at least a nine-point lead for the remainder of the game and led by as much as 23 on an Eric Bledsoe three-pointer with less than four minutes left in the contest.

After an early 6-2 run by Sacramento gave the Kings a 6-4 advantage, the Clippers answered with a 9-2 push to take a lead they would not relinquish.

Los Angeles stretched its lead to as much as 13 in the first quarter when Butler capped a 10-0 spurt with a driving layup to give the Clippers a 27-14 edge, but Sacramento closed out the opening frame with an 8-2 run to get within 29-22 entering the second quarter.

The Kings carried some of that momentum into the second when Donte Greene's three-pointer was followed by a Jimmer Fredette jumper to close the gap to four, 31-27.

But the Clippers regained their double-digit lead with a 10-1 swing and kept Sacramento at arm's length until a late 8-3 run by the Kings made it a 56-51 game at the break.

Game Notes

Los Angeles improved to 21-9 at home this season, while Sacramento fell to 2-23 on the road...Kings guard Marcus Thornton missed his third straight game with a thigh bruise...The Clippers held a 44-42 advantage on the glass and outscored the Kings in the paint, 52-40.