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Clips go for 5 in a row against Bulls

Nov 17, 2012 - 3:51 PM (Sports Network) - The Los Angeles Clippers have scored 100-plus points in every game except one this season and will put their four-game winning streak to the test Saturday versus the Chicago Bulls.

The Clippers are averaging 102.7 ppg through the first eight games and improved to 2-0 on a three-game homestand following a hard-fought 107-100 victory versus the defending champion Miami Heat on Wednesday.

Los Angeles used a big third quarter, outscoring the Heat by a 33-20 margin in the stanza, to keep its winning streak alive and a team-high 22 points from Jamal Crawford aided the Clippers. Blake Griffin had 20 points, 14 rebounds and six assists, while Chris Paul added 16 points and 10 assists.

"It feels great to be on a team like this," said Paul. "It's fun to be able to come out here and feel that spark you get from this great crowd we have every night."

Caron Butler had 15 points in the win and has scored in double figures through six of the eight games. He is averaging 14.0 ppg in the past two.

The Clippers made 48.6 percent of their shots, including 10-of-21 from 3-point range, and used a 13-2 run at the end of three quarters. It was a good measuring stick for a confident Clippers squad, which will open a four-game road trip Monday against San Antonio, Oklahoma City, Brooklyn and Atlanta.

L.A. has recorded some impressive wins this season over tough foes in the Grizzlies, Lakers, Spurs and now the Heat. It will face a Chicago squad that is still without Derrick Rose (knee) and averaging 96.7 ppg.

The Clips are 6-2 for the first time since the 2006-07 season and haven't won seven of their first nine games since opening the 2005-06 campaign 9-2.

Chicago has alternated wins and losses in its last seven games since opening the season with a win versus Sacramento.

In Wednesday's 112-106 overtime triumph at Phoenix in the opener of a five- game road trip, Carlos Boozer notched 28 points and 14 rebounds, and the Bulls shot an even 50 percent for the game and 3-point territory (6-of-12).

Joakim Noah is not a traditional scorer, but had 21 points and 12 boards. Luol Deng delivered 21 points as well for the Bulls, who had a 12-6 advantage in the extra session after getting outscored, 31-17, in the fourth quarter.

"We had some good things going tonight," said Boozer. "We let things slip away, but we rallied and it's a solid win we grabbed here tonight."

The Bulls also will visit the Trail Blazers, Rockets and Bucks on the trek. The last time the Bulls began a season 2-0 on the road was in 1996-97, when they won their first six road assignments that season.

Chicago won the lone meeting with the Clippers, 114-101, last season at Staples Center. The Bulls have won four of the last five as the visitor in this series. In 26 career games against the Clippers, Boozer is averaging 17.2 points and 10.1 rebounds. Deng is posting 16.9 ppg in 14 meetings.