Final
Return of Davis, Camby no help for lowly Clippers
Jan 29, 2009 - 6:53 AM By John Reger PA SportsTicker Contributing WriterLOS ANGELES (Ticker) -- Luol Deng scored 23 points and Tyrus Thomas added a double-double as the Chicago Bulls posted a 95-75 rout of the Los Angeles Clippers on Wednesday.
Deng hit 10-of-17 shots from the field and grabbed nine rebounds while Thomas contributed 16 points and 10 boards as all five starters scored in double figures for the Bulls, who snapped a five-game losing streak.
"My shot was on from the start," Deng said. "I got good looks and was moving well without the ball and guys were finding me."
Despite the return of guard Baron Davis and forward-center Marcus Camby, the Clippers struggled to make shots throughout the game, hitting just 36 percent (27-75) from the floor, including 6-of-20 3-pointers.
"I thought we executed well," Bulls coach Vinny Del Negro said. "Our offensive rebounding was huge. We had a nice flow to our game. I thought our zone defense was big tonight. Our control of the game was better."
Davis scored three points on 1-of-10 shooting in just under 22 minutes after missing 13 games with tailbone and hamstring injuries. Camby missed five games with a sprained left ankle and had six points and six rebounds in 22 minutes for Los Angeles, which has lost 17 of its last 19 games.
"I feel a little rusty," Davis said. "Not having any practice time or playing 5-on-5 was different than playing 1-on-1 or 2-on-2. I just have to find my legs at this point and work myself back into shape. I wasn't disappointed in my effort."
The duo helped the Clippers keep the game close in the first half. Despite Los Angeles hitting 14-of-38 (37 percent) shots from the field in the opening 24 minutes, it managed to trail by only three points, 47-44, entering the locker rooms.
But a dismal third quarter sealed the Clippers' fate. They mustered only nine points in the session, a season low for the team, hitting just 4-of-17 shots while getting outrebounded 17-5 during those 12 minutes.
"We made mistakes on weak-side rotations and they got easy layups and dunks off of us," Los Angeles coach Mike Dunleavy said. "In the third quarter they just blew us up."
Los Angeles was held below 90 points for the 20th game this campaign and failed to shoot more than 40 percent for the 12th time.
Overshadowed by the Clippers' dismal performance was the matchup between Rookie of the Year candidates Eric Gordon and Derrick Rose.
Gordon, who finished with 19 points, got the better of Rose in their first meeting this season, but the No. 1 overall pick got some revenge in this game, outscoring Los Angeles' rookie with 21 points.
"I wasn't thinking about it," Gordon said of the matchup. "Tonight it was just clicking for me."
- NBA
CHICAGO 95
LA CLIPPERS 75 FINAL
Jan 29 12:51 AM - NBA
CHICAGO 73
LA CLIPPERS 53 END, 3RD QTR
Jan 29 12:21 AM - NBA
CHICAGO 47
LA CLIPPERS 44 HALFTIME
Jan 28 11:43 PM - NBA
CHICAGO 24
LA CLIPPERS 19 END, 1ST QTR
Jan 28 11:06 PM
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