Kobe Bryant (24) of the Los Angeles Lakers handles the ball guarded by Matt Barnes (22) and DeAndre Jordan (6) of the Los Angeles Clippers during the second half of the NBA game at Staples Centre in Los Angeles, California, yesterday. The Clippers defeated the Lakers 109-95. RIGHT: Barbadian singer Rihanna attends the same game yesterday.
LOS ANGELES: The Los Angeles Clippers clinched their first division title in their 42-year history with a 109-95 rout of the Los Angeles Lakers behind a 24 point, 12 assist effort from Chris Paul yesterday.
Blake Griffin finished with 24 points, 12 rebounds and five assists for the Clippers who ended the Lakers’ five-year run atop the Pacific Division standings.
“We did a tremendous job of starting the second half. This is my first division win, but we kind of had the mind set that this was what we’re supposed to do,” Griffin said.
The Clippers also swept the season series against the rival Lakers for the first time since 1974-75 when they were known as the Buffalo Braves.
Jamal Crawford came off the bench to score 20 points for the Clippers at Staples Center arena.
Kobe Bryant had 25 points, 10 assists and seven rebounds for the Lakers, who are in a fight with the Utah Jazz for the eighth and final playoff spot in the Western Conference.
The Lakers have five games left, four of them at the Staples Center.
“Give them credit, they hit big shots, they played well. They’re very athletic, they’re long and they’re good. They were quicker to the ball than we were,” Lakers head coach Mike D’Antoni said.
Dwight Howard finished with 25 points as the Lakers had their modest three-game winning streak halted.
The Memphis Grizzlies and Charlotte Bobcats are the only teams in National Basketball Association history to not win a division championship.
Meanwhile, Carmelo Anthony scored 36 points and grabbed 12 rebounds to lead New York over Oklahoma City 125-120 yesterday, stretching the Knicks’ NBA winning streak to 12 games.
Anthony, who had scored at least 40 points in each of the Knicks’ past three triumphs, hit 15-of-29 from the field as New York snapped a five-game losing streak at Oklahoma City.
The Knicks, who have not lost since March 17 at the Los Angeles Clippers, improved to 50-26 -- their winningest season since 1999-2000 -- and moved within one victory or Brooklyn loss of clinching the Atlantic division title. New York’s current win streak, the third-longest in club history, is the best since a 15-game run during the 1993-94 campaign. JR Smith added 22 points for New York, including two key baskets in a late 11-2 run in the fourth quarter. Raymond Felton scored 16 points and eight assists, Tyson Chandler had 15 points and Jason Kidd added 14.
With the loss, the Thunder fell to 56-21 and dropped one game behind San Antonio in the race for the best record in the Western Conference and a home-court edge in the playoffs that begin later this month. Russell Westbrook scored 37 points, grabbed 11 rebounds and passed off eight assists for the Thunder. Kevin Durant, battling Anthony for the NBA scoring title, netted 27 points and contributed seven assists. A Westbrook layup put the Thunder ahead 111-110 with four minutes remaining, but Smith hit a jumper and a 3-pointer and Anthony tipped in another basket to seal the win.Agencies
