The Florida air apparently agrees with the Clippers.
The Clippers beat the Miami Heat, 110-93, the night after they beat the Orlando Magic, 114-90.
Not a bad way to start their seven-game trip. The Clippers hadn’t beaten Miami on the road since March 10, 2008. That was before LeBron James took his talents to South Beach.
The Clippers led by as much as 26 points. They took control of the game early, leading by 24 points at the end of the first quarter, 39-15, after shooting 68% from the field and making five of eight three-pointers.
The Heat chipped away at the Clippers’ lead a few times but couldn’t get it to single-digits. The Clippers’ starters returned to the game in the fourth quarter with 6:36 left after the Heat cut the deficit to 18 points, 96-78.
Clippers Coach Doc Rivers wasn’t going to take any chances considering that in three of the Clippers’ four losses this season they held double-digit leads. The starters quickly got the Clippers’ lead back up to more than 20.
The game featured excellent ball movement by the Clippers. who finished with 31 assists on 43 field goals. The Heat had only 11 assists.
The Clippers outshot the Heat from the field, 55.8% to 44.8%, and from beyond the three-point line, 41.9% to 23.1%. The Clippers, who have struggled with rebounding all season, even outdid the Heat on the boards, 35-30.
Chris Paul had 26 points and 12 assists. Blake Griffin had 26 points and seven rebounds. J.J. Redick had 14 points. DeAndre Jordan had 12 points and 11 rebounds. Matt Barnes had nine points, and Jamal Crawford added five points and nine assists.
Chris Bosh led the Heat with 28 points and seven rebounds.
The Clippers next game is against the Memphis Grizzlies on Sunday.
Copyright © 2014, Los Angeles Times
