LOS ANGELES: The Los Angeles Clippers left the Boston Celtics battered and bruised in a physical 106-77 victory yesterday to extend their franchise-record winning streak to 15 games and remain on top of the NBA standings.
Building on contributions from their All-Stars, balanced bench and ferocious defense, the Clippers (23-6) continued to prove they are legitimate title contenders with another impressive home win over a highly regarded opponent.
Reserves Matt Barnes (21 points) and Jamal Crawford (17) led the way as all 11 Los Angeles players who stepped on the Staples Center court put a number in the scoring column.
“The special thing about our team is no one cares who gets the credit,” Clippers point guard Chris Paul told reporters after finishing with eight points and 11 assists. “Right now our entire organisation has a winning mentality and we expect nothing less than that.”
At the other end, the Celtics were held to just 40 percent shooting and out-scored 24-10 in the final quarter to complete the formalities of a blowout victory.
Kevin Garnett recorded 16 points but Boston suffered their fifth loss in seven games and heaviest defeat of the season.
Considered one of the grittier teams in the league, the Celtics (14-14) were no match for the Clippers in a scrappy battle that featured bodies flying around, a flagrant foul and a bloodied lip for Paul Pierce after a collision with Paul.
Boston left the Staples Center clearly frustrated by the reality of being manhandled.
Point guard Rajon Rondo, the NBA’s leading assist man, finished with just six as he failed to reach double figures in that category for the second straight game.
He also tallied 10 points while Pierce added 12.
Los Angeles took a 30-20 lead after the first quarter and gradually increased their advantage after each break.
Matsui retires from baseball
TOKYO: Hard-hitting Hideki Matsui, who set several milestones for Japanese players in Major League Baseball, has announced his retirement from the game.
The 38-year-old slugger played for 10 seasons in MLB, seven of them with the New York Yankees, producing the most home runs, runs batted in and walks by a Japanese player in the league.
Matsui, the 2009 World Series MVP, told a news conference that he was no longer able to perform at the top level in either the United States or Japan.
“Today I’m bringing my 20-year baseball career to an end,” Matsui, who had been a free agent since being released by the Tampa Bay Rays in August, told reporters in New York yesterday.
“I’m both sad and relieved. I had the opportunity to play this season but my statistics were not good enough. That’s the biggest reason.”
Tributes flooded in for Matsui, a two-time All-Star with the Yankees fondly dubbed “Godzilla” since his early career in Japan for his powerful swing.
“He is a great player who always brought Japanese people hope and joy,” Japan’s chief cabinet secretary Yoshihide Suga told reporters in Tokyo yesterday.
Yankees shortstop Derek Jeter said: “I’ve had a lot of team mates over the years with the Yankees, but I will always consider Hideki one of my favorites.
Matsui was the first Japanese-born player to win World Series MVP honours, going 8-for-13 with three homers and eight runs batted in as the Yankees beat the Phillies in 2009.
“Hideki Matsui, in many ways, embodied what this organisation stands for,” Yankees general managing partner Hal Steinbrenner said. AGENCIES
