Five takeaways from the Clippers’ 114-96 win over the Pelicans
The Clippers beat the Pelicans, 114-96, on Friday night in New Orleans. Here are five things we learned:
1. Since getting a game off for rest, Blake Griffin has been playing at a high level. He was on top of his game Friday night against the Pelicans, scoring 27 points on 12-for-22 shooting.
He also had 10 rebounds and four assists.
Against the Cleveland Cavaliers on Thursday night, Griffin matched his career-high in assists with 11. He also had 13 points and five rebounds in that game.
“At the time, I didn’t want to rest,” Griffin said. “It’s kind of a scientific thing that we’re doing.
2. Jamal Crawford was giving it to the Pelicans off the bench for the Clippers. By making two of four three-pointers, Crawford (1,962) passed Grizzlies forward Vince Carter (1,961) for No. 6 on the NBA’s all-time list for made three-pointers.
Crawford produced 21 points against the Pelicans on nine-for-15 shooting.
It was the 168th career game in which Crawford has scored 20-plus points off the bench, the most among active players and second-most since the 1983-84 season.
3.) Quietly, Luc Mbah A Moute just goes about his job. He has become one of the NBA’s best defensive stoppers, but it’s not something Mbah A Moute brags about.
He didn’t have a marquee matchup against the Pelicans like when he defended LeBron James on Thursday night in Cleveland, but Mbah a Moute was just as solid.
He tied his season high with 15 points against the Pelicans, doing it in his quiet fashion. He also had five rebounds and two blocked shots.
“When you play against Luc, you’re not going to have a conversation, and I actually like that,” Clippers Coach Doc Rivers said. “You can talk to him and all that. He’s not going to respond. You’re just not going to have a conversation with him if you’re the other guy, and I love that.”
4. The Clippers shot the ball well from three-point range. They shot 41.7% from the three-point line.
Mbah a Moute was three for four from three-ball range, Griffin was one for two, Raymond Felton two for three, Chris Paul one for four and Pierce one for two.
5. When the Clippers got to the free-throw line, they made their shots count. They made 87.5% of their free throws, going 14 for 16 from the line.
Follow Broderick Turner on Twitter @BA_Turner
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