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Gordon, Clippers stave off Kings

Dec 7, 2010 - 7:01 AM Los Angeles, CA (Sports Network) - Eric Gordon scored 13 of his 29 points in the fourth quarter, including a go-ahead three-pointer in the final minute to help the Clippers survive a furious Kings comeback in a 98-91 victory.

Los Angeles squandered a 16-point lead entering the fourth and trailed 91-87 with 2 1/2 minutes to play before scoring the final 11 points.

Ryan Gomes totaled 17 points and nine rebounds for the Clippers, who had lost four of five coming in. Blake Griffin scored 13 points and pulled down 11 rebounds for the victors.

Omri Casspi posted 21 points and 10 boards to pace Sacramento, which is mired in an eight-game slump. Tyreke Evans netted 16 points, and DeMarcus Cousins and Carl Landry scored 15 apiece in defeat.

Two Griffin free throws and a Gomes jumper in the final minute of the third quarter gave the hosts a seemingly comfortable 79-63 lead.

The Kings, who shot 32.8 percent from the field in the first three quarters, made five of their first six attempts to start the final stanza. Casspi hit a three from the right corner to cap a 12-0 flurry over the first three minutes.

Casspi converted a three-point play the old fashioned way to complete the comeback with 5:13 left, as the free throw gave Sacramento an 86-85 lead.

"We found a combination that worked. Our bench gave us the shot we needed," said Kings head coach Paul Westphal.

The visitors stayed in front before Gordon's scoop tied the game, 91-all, with 1:37 showing.

After Cousins missed a tough reverse layup, Gordon spotted up from well beyond the three-point line and drained it with 47.5 seconds remaining.

Pooh Jeter missed a deep try on the next Kings possession, then turned it over after Gordon made two free throws with 16.3 seconds to go, all but sealing the decision.

"Eric Gordon came up big for us at the end," Clippers head coach Vinny Del Negro said. "It's a good win. The guys needed it."

Gomes quickly erased LA's 20-16 deficit going into the second quarter with three consecutive buckets to start the frame.

Eric Bledsoe's late three-pointer provided the Clippers with a 50-44 halftime lead, and another Bledsoe trey and Gordon three-point play to open the third stanza made it a double-digit game.

Game Notes

Both teams came in with just four wins on the season...Bledsoe scored 15 points in the win...Jeter scored 11 points in defeat...Griffin has notched nine consecutive double-doubles.