SB Nation Los Angeles - Fourth Quarter Rally Lifts Clippers Over Raptorshttps://cdn.vox-cdn.com/community_logos/48949/la-fave.png2011-03-26T23:30:16-07:00http://losangeles.sbnation.com/rss/stream/18376152011-03-26T23:30:16-07:002011-03-26T23:30:16-07:00Griffin Leads Clippers Over Raptors, 94-90
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<p><font size="2"> Los Angeles, CA (Sports Network) - <span>Blake Griffin</span> powered his way to 22 points and 16 rebounds, as the Los Angeles <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="https://www.clipsnation.com/">Clippers</a> rallied late for a 94-90 win over the <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="https://www.raptorshq.com/">Toronto Raptors</a>. </font></p>
<p><font size="2"> <span>Chris Kaman</span> added 17 points and 12 rebounds for the Clippers, who went a 24-10 run over the game's final 8 1/2 minutes. Griffin had eight points and eight rebounds in the last quarter, when the hosts held a 28-17 scoring advantage. </font></p>
<p><font size="2"> "Down the stretch we executed and got some stops," Griffin said. "I'm really trying to work on being a better fourth quarter player." </font></p>
<p><font size="2"> One night after allowing 138 points in a loss to Golden State, the Raptors blew a double-digit lead in the fourth quarter and had their five-game winning streak against the Clippers broken. </font></p>
<p><font size="2"> <span>Ed Davis</span> had a career-best 21 points to go with 11 rebounds for the Raptors, who lost their fourth in a row. They finished 1-4 on their road trip. </font></p>
<p><font size="2"> "I thought we battled most of the night, but that's two games in a row that the zone hurt us," Raptors coach <span>Jay Triano</span> said. </font></p>
<p><font size="2"> Davis' tip-in off a miss from James Johnson gave the Raptors an 88-87 lead, but Griffin came right back with a slam with 1:43 left. </font></p>
<p><font size="2"> The Clippers didn't relinquish the lead down the stretch. Eric Gordon then blocked <span>Leandro Barbosa</span>'s right baseline jumper and hit a three at the other end with a minute remaining. </font></p>
<p><font size="2"> A layup from DeMar DeRozan had the visitors within a deuce with 21.1 seconds to go, but <span>Mo Williams</span>, who fell on his head on the Gordon block play, sank two free throws for a four-point cushion. That came with 12.6 seconds to go. </font></p>
<p><font size="2"> Johnson then missed a three-point attempt, sealing Toronto's fate. Griffin failed on two free throw attempts, but <span>Ryan Gomes</span> secured the rebound and LA ran out the remaining 5.8 seconds. </font></p>
<p><font size="2"> Both teams went 8-of-23 from the field in the opening quarter, resulting in a 21-18 lead for the Raptors after 12 minutes. They led, 44-43 at the half and 73-66 going to the fourth. </font></p>
<p><font size="2"> "The energy early wasn't great, but we found a way at the end," Clippers coach <span>Vinny Del Negro</span> said. "The zone helped us." </font></p>
<p><font size="2"> Toronto gained its largest lead of 10 at 80-70, but Griffin's slam eventually pushed the Clippers to an 83-82 edge with 4 1/2 minutes remaining. </font></p>
<p><font size="2"> Game Notes </font></p>
<p><font size="2"> The Raptors will host Milwaukee on Wednesday, while the Clippers' next game is the same night at home against Dallas...The was the first time the Clippers won at home over the Raptors since November 23, 2005...Gordon had 17 points, three more than teammate Randy Foye...Johnson and Barbosa each scored 14, two less than <span>Jose Calderon</span>. </font></p>
<p><i>For more news and information on tonight's game, be sure to read <a target="_blank" href="http://www.clipsnation.com/">Clips Nation</a>.</i></p>
https://losangeles.sbnation.com/los-angeles-clippers/2011/3/26/2074665/clippers-vs-raptors-nba-blake-griffin-chris-kamanEric Stephen2011-03-26T09:56:18-07:002011-03-26T09:56:18-07:00Griffin, Clippers Look For Rebound Against Raptors At Staples Center
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<p>The <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="https://www.clipsnation.com/">Los Angeles Clippers</a> look to rebound from last night's loss as they host the <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="https://www.raptorshq.com/">Toronto Raptors</a> tonight at Staples Center. After spending almost all of February on the road, the Clippers have enjoyed some home cooking in late March. Tonight will be the sixth of seven straight games at Staples Center for the Clippers.</p>
<p>When the Clippers and Raptors last met, the Clippers were in the midst of their epic 11-game road trip, and Toronto was struggling. However, even though the Raptors had lost 16 of 17 games heading into that February 13 encounter, <a target="_blank" href="http://losangeles.sbnation.com/los-angeles-clippers/2011/2/13/1991543/clippers-vs-raptors-nba-blake-griffin-eric-gordon">they were able to beat the Clippers, 98-93</a>. Since that game, Toronto has gone 5-12 while the Clippers are 8-11. Both teams are playing tonight on the second night of back-to-back games, as the Clippers lost a close battle with the <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="https://www.silverscreenandroll.com/">Lakers</a> while the Raptors were getting blown out in Oakland against Golden State. Tonight is the final game of a five-game road trip for Toronto.</p>
<p><span>Blake Griffin</span> is well on his way to the Rookie of the Year award this season, though he seems to hit a wall of late. Of course, this is all relative, as Griffin is still averaging 20.6 points and 7.9 rebounds per game in his last nine games. After 54 double-doubles in the first 64 games of the season, Griffin has been held to single-digit rebounds in eight of the last nine games. Still, he remains tied with <span>Elton Brand</span> in 2001-2002 for the most double-doubles in a season in Clippers franchise history.</p>
<p><span>DeAndre Jordan</span> returned to the Clippers last night after a bout with pneumonia, playing 23 minutes against the Lakers. Steve Perrin at Clips Nation <a target="_blank" href="http://www.clipsnation.com/2011/3/26/2073121/los-angeles-clippers-vs-toronto-raptors-game-preview">analyzed the center position going forward</a>:</p>
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<p>So the question is, who gets the start? It's been my assumption all along that eventually Kaman would get his starting job back - he's the far superior scorer, and is arguably a better (if very different) defender as well. Jordan plays with great energy and when he is active, he really helps the team. It's not a problem having two starting quality centers, but the Clippers do need to decide how they will use both when they are healthy.</p>
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<p><i>For more news and information on tonight's game, be sure to read <a target="_blank" href="http://www.clipsnation.com">Clips Nation</a>.</i></p>
https://losangeles.sbnation.com/2011/3/26/2332228/griffin-clippers-look-for-rebound-against-raptors-at-staples-centerEric Stephen