LA Clippers fail to complete comeback, fall to Pacers 111-102
The LA Clippers have fallen to the Indiana Pacers for the second time in a week, losing 111-102 in another lacklustre performance and blowing a 15-point lead.
Myles Turner scored 17 points and Paul George added 16 in his return as the Indiana Pacers (9-9) stopped the LA Clippers‘ (16-6) comeback effort to win the game and the season series. After storming out the gate early and going up 23-8 in a hurry, the Clippers never remained in such control.
Rodney Stuckey added 16 points and provided tough defense against the Clippers’ guards. Jeff Teague added 15 points with three steals.
The Clippers were up 13 with 15 points from J.J. Redick before he and the rest starters came out of the game late in the opening quarter. George was held scoreless in the period with great defense by Luc Mbah A Moute, smothering PG13 on the ball with excellent, lengthy aggression.
The Pacers answered back by taking the lead shortly before the Clippers starters regained it before half time. The Clippers up by four by the half; that was the last time they were ahead by that much the rest of the way.
Coming into the third, the Pacers flipped the game and went on a 19-2 run in six minutes. The Clippers could not stop nor could they make shots, failing to make a single field goal for the first six minutes of the third quarter.
The lead ballooned to 20 with ten minutes left in the fourth quarter. The Clippers came back with fury to make it a game late in the fourth quarter.
Redick had an open shot rim that rimmed out, but Jordan snagged the rebound it, dunked it, and got the foul that brought it within four. DeAndre Jordan then missed the free throw, and on the next possession for the Pacers, George received an open look at a three to push his team’s lead up to seven. The Clippers fouled to try and get possessions, but ran out of time on their comeback.
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Blake Griffin added 24 points, 15 rebounds, and five assists. Chris Paul chipped in 18 points with 11 assists, while Jordan had nine points and 15 rebounds. Redick added 15 points, all coming as three-pointers in the first half. Crawford provided a spark off the bench with 14 points.
The Clippers also out rebounded the Pacers 51-36, an advantage that should have served them to victory, but 20 ugly turnovers killed the Clippers.
Notes
The Clippers had more turnovers than assists for only the second time of the season.
The first time was against (you guessed it) the Pacers a week ago.
Half of the Clippers’ losses have come at home, and they’re now 6-4 in their last ten games.
Next: Raymond Felton is a wise choice to start sometimes
Up Next
The LA Clippers host the Golden State Warriors on Wednesday for their first matchup of the season. The game is a highly anticipated outing to see how both teams perform in a potential playoff series.