Final
Clippers-Lakers Preview
Apr 6, 2016 - 7:08 AM With little to compete for in the playoff race, the Los Angeles Clippers can focus on spoiling Kobe Bryant's final game against them.The Clippers will also seek their 11th consecutive win in the series Wednesday night and a sweep of back-to-back matchups.
The Clippers (49-28) are now locked into the Western Conference's No. 4 seed after Oklahoma City claimed its 54th victory in Denver on Tuesday. They finished off a 103-81 blowout of the Lakers not long after that game ended with Chris Paul scoring 25 points on 10-of-14 shooting and Jeff Green chipping in 21 off the bench.
"Our main goal in these (upcoming) games is to work on us, stay sharp and not take these games for granted," forward Blake Griffin said. "These games can be a great learning experience for us. It's not hard. It's different."
Bryant was held to six points on 2-of-12 shooting in his final game as a visiting player at Staples Center. The next matchup against the Clippers is his penultimate home contest, and his career will come to a close during a visit from Utah next Wednesday.
"As much as I can play, I will play. I mean I've got two home games left. It's been crazy," he said. "I'm going to lace them up and go."
Bryant's current total of 68 regular-season games against the Clippers will stand as his most versus any opponent, edging out 67 against Golden State and the Memphis/Vancouver Grizzlies.
"He's meant a lot to the game of basketball. You can see it not just from Lakers fans but fans all over the world," Griffin said. "He's been great, motivating, inspiring. He's done a lot of things for basketball. To be on the court with him these last couple of times is special."
The Clippers' 10 consecutive wins over the Lakers (16-61) matches their longest active win streak versus any opponent and is tied for their fourth-longest overall. They have also won 10 straight over Detroit.
It's unclear if the Clippers will rest Griffin during their attempt to extend their intracity win streak. He's totaled 10 points on 3-of-12 shooting in his two games since returning from injuries and a team suspension.
"Talking to him after (Tuesday's win), he said he felt great. We plan on playing him (Wednesday), but I'm going to wait until he wakes up in the morning," coach Doc Rivers said. "Sometimes your body feels different in the morning. So we'll see."
Rivers might get veteran forward Paul Pierce back after a four-game absence due to a sprained right ankle and bruised right knee. The Clippers coach and Pierce competed in a pair of NBA finals against Bryant, splitting the two, and numerous other clashes.
Paul has totaled 52 points on 20-of-33 shooting in his two games since he was allowed to rest during a 119-117 loss at Oklahoma City on Thursday. He's averaging 25.0 points on 62.7 percent shooting - his best versus any opponent - in his three games against the Lakers this season.
- LOS ANGELES: 91
LOS ANGELES: 81
Final
Apr 7 12:46 AM - End of 4th Quarter.
Apr 7 12:46 AM - LOS ANGELES: 91
LOS ANGELES: 81
4th Quarter - 0:20
Apr 7 12:46 AM - End of 3rd Quarter.
Apr 7 12:19 AM - End of 1st Half.
Apr 6 11:35 PM - LOS ANGELES: 51
LOS ANGELES: 42
2nd Quarter - 0:17
Apr 6 11:34 PM - End of 1st Quarter.
Apr 6 11:04 PM - LOS ANGELES: 29
LOS ANGELES: 25
1st Quarter - 0:31
Apr 6 11:04 PM - LOS ANGELES: 0
LOS ANGELES: 0
1st Quarter - 12:00
Apr 6 10:41 PM - DeAndre Jordan vs. Roy Hibbert (Blake Griffin gains possession)
Apr 6 10:41 PM - LOS ANGELES: 0
LOS ANGELES: 0
Final
Apr 6 10:41 PM
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