Minus Griffin, Clippers beat short-handed Jazz

During that span of games, the Clippers will play the Cleveland Cavaliers, New York Knicks, Toronto Raptors, Indiana Pacers, and Atlanta Hawks in a span of seven days. They needed to beat the Redskins and Giants next week to win the East. Washington’s win also eliminated NY (6-8).

After starting the season with an abysmal 31 percent from inside on field goal inside the arc, with a 20 percent from the three-point line through November, it was a hard to not agree with Kobe Bryant when he stated at not long after the season started that he sucks. The song was played during and after every Boston victory at the Garden, including the Game 6 clincher the Celtics won by 39 points.

The Clippers took an 85-57 lead into the fourth, and both coaches rested all of their starters until the Lakers started to make a move. Carl Landry added 16 points as Philadelphia (2-30) snapped a 12-game losing streak with its first win since December 1.

It was the Clippers’ first game without Griffin, who did not travel with the team after suffering a partially torn left quadriceps tendon against the Los Angeles Lakers on Christmas Day.

Clippers: Pierce scored 11 points in the third quarter after totaling just six before halftime….

The Clippers grabbed a 60-44 lead at the half, outshooting the Lakers 51.1 percent to 41.7 percent.

The Lakers had 16 turnovers.

Raul Neto gave the Jazz an early spark in the first quarter. Larry Nance Jr. had 17 points and 11 rebounds, while Jordan Clarkson scored 12 points and D’Angelo Russell finished with 10. After DeAndre Jordan hit a basket, the Clippers were still playing catch-up, trailing by a point and struggling to stop the Jazz attack.

This year, fans can vote daily through Google Search on their desktop, tablet and mobile devices or at NBA.com, through the NBA app, SMS text and Twitter, Facebook and Instagram.

“To go back in 2010 and have that redemption, I was telling Metta on the bench, ‘You know, Metta, I’m so damn happy we won that 2010 Finals because I’d be sick… sitting here right now, ‘” Bryant said. “I mean, I’m so used to playing on Christmas”.

One of Blake Griffin’s best efforts didn’t help the Los Angeles Clippers maintain their mastery of the Utah Jazz in their last meeting. Oscar Robertson held the previous career record for points on Christmas with 377 before Bryant broke it in 2012. It is the first game Favors has missed because of an injury this season…. The two scored the Clippers’ final 13 points of the game, including three clutch 3-pointers and 4-for-4 shooting from the free-throw line.

The Lakers are 16-33-2 ATS in their last 51 vs. Western Conference and 0-7 ATS in their last 7 vs. NBA Southwest.