LA Clippers dealt first road loss by Detroit Pistons 108-97
LA Clippers drop one on the road to the Detroit Pistons 108-97. Their unbeaten streak on the road ends at seven.
J.J. Reddick and Blake Griffin each had 24 points for the LA Clippers (14-3) in a losing effort for their first road loss of the year to the Detroit Pistons (8-9).
The Clippers played from behind for most of the night, and trying to overcome an 18-point deficit later in the game was too much. The Pistons led by as much as 17 in the first quarter. A 14-4 burst helped the Clippers get within eight, but they couldn’t sustain such momentum.
The Clippers took a two point lead early in the fourth quarter, but that was the last time they led against a Piston team looking for redemption for a blowout loss a couple of weeks back.
Andre Drummond battled early foul trouble in the first half before finishing with 16 points and 10 boards. Kentavious Caldwell-Pope scored 16 points and dropped a rare 10 dimes. Lobs to Drummond made it look like the Pistons were “Lob City” rather the Clippers.
No Clipper player had a positive +/- for the game, and spacing seemed to be a problem at times. Ball movement wavered at times despite a total of 26 assists, and when the ball stalled and players went to isolation it was far easier for the Pistons to make it a contested shot.
Chris Paul added eight points for the game, and even though he didn’t score in the second half he dropped 15 assists for the game. DeAndre Jordan perfect from the field for 12 points and nine rebounds.
L.A. failed to score 100 points for the first time in 12 games. They were a minus 10 on the boards (42-32) and only had four steals, a surprisingly low number for them this season with the way they’ve been pressuring the ball and jumping passing lanes. They shot a respectable percentage from the field at 47.9, but fell short to the Pistons’ nine threes made at a 47.4 percent rate.
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Clippers bench a no show, besides Crawford
The Clippers’ bench shot a disappointing 9-of-25 for the game. Only Jamal Crawford scored more than five points from the bench, scoring at a rather inefficient 4-of-12 from the field and 1-of-5 from deep.
Austin Rivers and Raymond Felton did not attempt a shot from three for the entire game. Everyone looked just a step slow after the Thanksgiving Day break. Too much turkey, perhaps?
Pistons players missing in action
Stanley Johnson was suspended for one game after violating team rules. Reggie Jackson and former Clipper Reggie Bullock both missed the game with left knee injuries.
Notes
The Clippers lost their first game on the road for the season, now standing at 7-1 in such games and will continue their six-game road trip on Sunday.
Next: Black Friday Breakdown: The best contracts on LAC's roster
The LA Clippers play the Indiana Pacers on Sunday at 3:00 PST. The Pacers are a game under .500 and are in the process of trying to find their identity, struggling to find the right pace or defensive success under new head coach Nate McMillan. The Clippers and Luc Mbah a Moute will have their hands full with small forward Paul George, a perennial all-star and MVP Candidate.