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Jordan leads Clippers into matchup with Kings

Feb 21, 2015 - 3:35 PM (SportsNetwork.com) - DeAndre Jordan should have been an All-Star.

The monster in the middle for the Los Angeles Clippers had numbers deserving of a nod and will lead his team into Saturday's showdown with the Pacific- rival Sacramento Kings at Staples Center.

Jordan is averaging 24.0 points and 21.7 rebounds in his last three games and has shot 50 percent or higher from the field in an NBA record 40 consecutive games. He leads the NBA in field goal percentage (72.5) and rebounds per game (13.9) and ranks second in blocks per game (2.3).

In a 119-115 win over the defending champion San Antonio Spurs on Thursday, Jordan scored a career-best 26 points to go along with 18 rebounds, and was sent to the foul line a career-high 28 times, making only 10 free throws. Spurs coach Gregg Popovich would rather send Jordan to the line than watch Clippers point guard Chris Paul disrupt his team.

"I hate it, but it's a rule. It's part of the game," said Popovich. "It's a whole lot better than chasing Chris Paul around all day."

The Clippers are 14-3 in the 17 career games in which Jordan has attempted more than 10 free throws.

Jamal Crawford scored 26 points and Paul finished with 22 and 16 assists for Los Angeles, which made 54.5 percent from the field and won its third straight game after losing four in a row. The Clippers are 10-5 in the past 15 games, and are unbeaten in the past five at home.

Los Angeles, which has a 22-7 home record, has prevailed in each of the past 11 games against Western Conference foes at Staples Center. It is 23-8 overall against the West, including a 14-2 ledger as the host.

The Clippers are 20-1 when scoring 100 or more points at home this season and second in the league with 107.0 ppg. They will close this four-game homestand Monday versus the Memphis Grizzlies.

Sacramento opened the George Karl era with Friday's 109-101 win over the Boston Celtics. Karl was appointed head coach over the All-Star break.

DeMarcus Cousins posted 31 points and 15 rebounds, but had nine of Sacramento's 24 turnovers. Boston scored 38 points on the miscues.

"We have to start being better in here, and then somewhere along the way go out on the road, get lucky winning some games on the road," Karl said. "We have to establish home court. I think that's the beginning of a good team."

Rudy Gay scored 28 points for the Kings, who recovered from an 18-4 hole and won for just the third time in the last 16 contests. The Kings used a 17-0 run in the first quarter for a 28-27 lead after 12 minutes. Boston tied the game at 89-89, but the hosts closed the contest on a 20-12 surge.

Cousins has recorded 16 double-doubles in the last 18 games and has a total of 34 on the season.

The Kings hope to stop a three-game road losing streak against the Clippers and are 7-17 as the visitor this season.

Sacramento and Los Angeles have split the first two meetings this season and the Pacific foes are scheduled to tangle on March 18 in California's capital.

The Clippers are 14-3 in the last 17 matchups with the Kings.