Final
Clippers, Warriors renew rivalry in LA
Mar 12, 2014 - 2:09 PM (SportsNetwork.com) - The Los Angeles Clippers are rolling toward the postseason and will try to knock off another playoff-hopeful team when they host the Golden State Warriors Wednesday at Staples Center.The Clippers are just three games off the top spot in the Western Conference and sit third in the standings. Golden State is sixth in the West, four games behind Wednesday night's opponent.
Los Angeles has won eight in a row and 11 of its last 13 games and kept the streak going with Monday's 112-105 victory over the Phoenix Suns. Blake Griffin continued his torrid scoring pace with 37 points on 14-of-16 shooting, Darren Collison scored 20 points and Chris Paul had 17 with 11 assists.
"When shots are falling you want to keep shooting," said Griffin, who has scored 20 or more points in the last 23 games (27.8 ppg). "It was one of those moments that it felt like everything was going in. When shots are falling from the outside, that opens up everything else."
The Clippers shot 55.1 percent to make up for 22 turnovers. They have scored 100-plus points in each of the past eight games and are first in scoring this season with 107.8 ppg.
L.A. has a 27-5 home record this season, going 17-3 against Western opponents in that time, and is 27-11 overall in conference action. The Clippers have won four in a row at home and will visit Utah on Friday.
In milestone news for Griffin, he needs five rebounds for 3,000 in his career and will become the third player all-time to reach 6,000 points, 3,000 boards and 1,000 assists before the end of his fourth season while shooting 50 percent or better. Kareem Abdul-Jabbar and Charles Barkley are the others.
Clippers guard Jamal Crawford (calf) is questionable Wednesday and returned to action March 8 in a win over Atlanta, scoring three points in about 10 minutes. It was his first game since Feb. 26 versus Houston.
Golden State has been playing just as well as the Clippers with five straight wins and 10 in the last 12 tries.
The Warriors are coming off Tuesday's 108-85 besting of the Dallas Mavericks, as Jordan Crawford came off the bench to score 19 points and Andrew Bogut tallied 15 and 10 rebounds.
"He was great," Warriors head coach Mark Jackson said of Crawford. "He has a gift to score the basketball. When called upon, he's been ready and deserves a lot of credit."
Klay Thompson (14), Harrison Barnes (13) and Stephen Curry (10) rounded out the double-digit scorers for Golden State, which made 51.3 percent from the field and sank 12-of-25 3-pointers. David Lee was held to six points and also grabbed 11 rebounds.
The Warriors are a season-high 17 games above .500 and will try to work on their 20-14 road record this season. They are 9-10 on the road against Western Conference foes.
Golden State has won two of three meetings with the Clippers this season and is 7-3 in the past 10 matchups between the teams.
Mar 13 12:57 AM- GOLDEN STATE: 79
LOS ANGELES: 84
End of 3rd
Mar 13 12:23 AM - GOLDEN STATE: 56
LOS ANGELES: 54
Halftime
Mar 12 11:37 PM - GOLDEN STATE: 29
LOS ANGELES: 29
End of 1st
Mar 12 11:07 PM - GOLDEN STATE: 0
LOS ANGELES: 0
1st Quarter - 11:42
Mar 12 10:41 PM
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