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Clippers edge Celtics

Jan 9, 2014 - 8:05 AM Los Angeles, CA (SportsNetwork.com) - Blake Griffin scored 29 points, Jamal Crawford added 26 and the Los Angeles Clippers fended off the Boston Celtics, 111-105, at Staples Center.

Jared Dudley donated 18 points in the Clippers' fourth win in their last five games, while Darren Collison checked in with 15 points and six assists.

Jordan Crawford and Avery Bradley netted 24 points apiece for the Celtics, who committed 18 turnovers in their sixth straight loss.

"To come in here and win you're going to have to make more than 5-of-17 from three and not turn the ball over 18 times," Celtics head coach Brad Stevens said.

Boston was within two possessions entering the fourth, but the Clippers opened the final frame on a 12-2 run to pull away.

Jamal Crawford ended the flurry with a 3-pointer and a mid-range jumper to give LA a 100-84 advantage, and the closest Boston got from there was four in the final minute thanks to some sloppy play by the Clippers.

"It felt like we played in spurt. When we got a (big) lead, we relaxed," Clippers head coach Doc Rivers said.

Two missed free throws by Dudley with 16.4 seconds remaining gave Boston a fighter's change, but Jerryd Bayless missed a contested layup at the other end to seal the outcome.

The Clippers scored 18 consecutive points during a four-minute stretch in the opening quarter and led 32-23 at the end of 12 minutes.g

Boston chipped away at its deficit and pulled within 59-55 at the break thanks to a 16-4 differential in points in the paint in the second.

Griffin highlighted an 8-0 Clippers run in the third quarter with a basket reminiscent of his famous "dunk" over Timofey Mozgov a little more than three years ago. Griffin drove the lane and was met by Kris Humphries, and instead of pulling up, skyed over the 6-foot-9 forward with the help on an elbow and threw it through the hoop even though he never touched the rim.

The crowd-pleaser gave LA a 79-72 lead, and the hosts were in front, 88-82, heading into the fourth.

Game Notes

The Clippers beat the Celtics earlier this season in Rivers' return to Boston, where he spent nine seasons as head coach ... Bayless, acquired by Boston in a trade of Tuesday, totaled 11 points and five assists off the bench ... Jeff Green had a double-double of 15 points and 11 boards for Boston, which finishes its five-game road trip with games against the Golden State Warriors and Portland Trail Blazers ... DeAndre Jordan supplied 11 points and 13 rebounds for LA, which swept a two-game season series from Boston for the first time since the 2006-07 campaign.