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Clippers welcome Knicks to LA

Dec 31, 2014 - 2:46 PM (SportsNetwork.com) - The Los Angeles Clippers will resume a nine-game homestand Wednesday versus the struggling New York Knicks.

The Clippers are 2-1 on this Staples Center marathon and recorded a 101-97 victory versus the Utah Jazz on Monday, as Blake Griffin led the way with 24 points, seven assists and six rebounds.

Chris Paul had 20 points, eight assists, five rebounds and four steals, while Jamal Crawford and J.J. Redick recorded 17 points apiece for the Clippers.

"Blake was huge tonight," said Paul. "We got stops when we needed to. Matt Barnes was unbelievable on defense down the stretch."

Barnes finished with 13 points and a career high-tying three blocks. Los Angeles totaled 12 blocked shots on the night.

The 12 straight wins over Utah are the most against any opponent in franchise history.

LA is 20-5 when scoring 100 or more points this season and is fourth in the NBA with 106.1 ppg. The Clippers are third in field goal percentage at 47.2.

The Clippers are 13-4 at home and will also entertain Philadelphia, Atlanta, the rival Lakers, Dallas and Miami on the stay.

Meanwhile, the Knicks hope to close out a three-game western trek on a high note and have lost back-to-back games in Sacramento and Portland.

New York dropped its eighth straight game and fell to 5-28 on the season with Sunday's 101-79 loss to the Trail Blazers, as Carmelo Anthony finished with 13 points and five rebounds in just one half of action. He sat out the second half due to left knee soreness.

Tim Hardaway Jr. paced the Knicks with 17 points, while Cole Aldrich chipped in 12 points and career-highs of 19 rebounds and four steals for New York, which is only 1-18 since Nov. 24 and 2-15 on the road.

"I think the guys showed some grit and some toughness," said Knicks coach Derek Fisher.

The Knicks are winless in their last four road games and will play the next two games at home versus Detroit and Milwaukee.

Anthony is probable Wednesday and oft-injured forward Andrea Bargnani (hamstring/calf) is listed as questionable against the Clippers. Bargnani has yet to play this season, his second with the Knicks.

"The calf is not 100 percent but it's good enough to play," Bargnani told the New York Post. "It was a long process to get here to practice, I went through practice. It's good enough to practice. It's good enough to play ... the calf is not 100 percent, but enough to be active."

The addition gives the Knicks another body. Anthony said Bargnani is another big man who can create space on the floor and shoot the ball.

"I'm excited to see him back. I'm glad he worked through his injury," Anthony told the Post.

Bargnani hasn't played since last Jan. 22 against Philadelphia and averaged 13.3 points over 42 games in 2013-14.

The Clippers have won four straight and 13 of the last 18 games against New York. The Knicks will host the Clippers on March 25 at MSG and are just 1-12 against teams from the Western Conference (0-8 on road).

Anthony averaged 17.0 points in two games against LA last season.