LOS ANGELES -- The Sixers proved Thursday’s overtime efforts against the Trail Blazers weren’t a fluke as they battled the Clippers on Saturday at the Staples Center.
The Clippers came out on top, 112-100, but the Sixers held their own into the fourth. They outscored the Clippers in the second and third quarter.
The veteran Clippers know how to turn it on, though. After the Sixers trailed, 93-92, with 5:13 to go, the Clippers went on a 7-0 run over the next minutes. And when DeAndre Jordan is making free throws, well, then things are going right for the Clippers.
In addition to Chris Paul dropping 30 points, the game was highlighted by strong performances by bigs. Richaun Holmes scored a career-high 24 points (with nine rebounds) in 27 minutes off the bench for the Sixers. Jordan posted a 19-point, 20-rebound double-double. The Sixers gave up 20 rebounds for the second straight game (Jusuf Nurkic).
Inside the box score
• Chris Paul shot 4 for 4 from three en route to his game-high 30 points (11 in the third). He dished seven assists with three rebounds.
• Dario Saric (16 points, five rebounds), Jahlil Okafor (14 points, four rebounds) and Robert Covington (13 points, six rebounds) scored in double-digits in the starting lineup.
NBA
• T.J. McConnell led all players with 10 assists and scored nine points.
• Blake Griffin posted 15 points and 10 rebounds.
TLC starts, Henderson sits
Gerald Henderson (left hip soreness) did not play Saturday. The team sat him against the Clippers for rest with a back-to-back game Sunday. Timothe Luwawu-Cabarrot got the start in place of Henderson. He was tasked with defending J.J. Redick (12 points).
“It certainly isn’t a punishment to anybody and it isn’t a reward to him. It’s an opportunity that I want to study,” Brown said of the start. “Timmy is just a young guy that at times is a track star, at times is a basketball player. … We’re trying to get him now to be a polished basketball player and especially zoom in on the opportunity to chase JJ around.”
Brand recognition
Elton Brand spent seven seasons the Clippers, the most out of any team in his 17-year career. The organization gave him a special welcome (and 38th birthday wishes) while he was at the Staples Center as a player development consultant for the Sixers.
Up next
The Sixers have a quick turnaround. They will head back to the Staples Center on Sunday evening to play the Lakers.