| |
|
NBA -- Griffin soars, Clippers stay at No.4 seed
By Jose Roberto Meza
PhilBoxing.com
Fri, 12 Apr 2013
LOS ANGELES -- The Los Angeles Clippers beat the Minnesota Timberwoves Wednesday night at the Staples Center, a 111-95 triumph that solidified the Clippers' chances of having homecourt advantage in the opening round of the NBA playoffs that begin on April 20.
With an improved 52-26 record, the Pacific Division champion Clippers are ranked No.4 in the Western Conference Division, one game ahead of the No.5 Memphis Grizzlies (53-25) and two games behind the No.3 Denver Nuggets (54-24). If the rankings stay the same when the regular season ends of April 17, the Clippers wrestle with the Grizzlies in a seven-game series.
"You want to be playing your best basketball down the stretch. I think we've really made it a point last seven or so games to play with a lot of energy, to play with a lot of pace and try to get on track," Los Angeles Clippers head coach Vinny Del Negro told NBA.com.
Blake Griffin guided Los Angeles to win No.52. Making nine of 13 field goals, the high-leaping power forward tallied 19 points, eight rebounds and seven assists. Point guard Chris Paul dazzled with 19 and 11 assists while Matt Barnes added 14. Jamal Crawford finished with 11 off the bench.
Already eliminated from the playoffs, the 29-49 Minesota Timberwolves fought a good fight, but they couldn't overcome shooting just 35 of 90 from the field and just six of 23 from 3-point range.
Nekola Pekovic paced Minnesota with 20 points while Derrick Williams had 13. J.J. Barea chipped 12. (RM)
Click here to view a list of other articles written by Jose Roberto Meza.
Recent PhilBoxing.com In-House articles:
SUNDAY: Naoya Inoue vs. Murodjon Akhmadaliev Undisputed Super Bantamweight Showdown to Stream Exclusively on Top Rank’s Facebook Channel in the U.S. & UK
, Fri, 12 Sep 2025National Shelter Month Run on October 25 in DGT
By Lito delos Reyes, , Fri, 12 Sep 2025Canelo-Crawford: Betting Odds Reveal a Battle of Money vs. Public Opinion
By Dong Secuya, , Fri, 12 Sep 2025BELFAST PRESS CONFERENCE: EVERYTHING LEWIS CROCKER AND PADDY DONOVAN SAID AHEAD OF HISTORIC WORLD TITLE SHOWDOWN
, Fri, 12 Sep 2025GABRIELA “SWEET POISON” FUNDORA TO DEFEND UNDISPUTED CROWN AGAINST HIGHLY RANKED NEW FOE ALEXAS “IRON LADY” KUBICKI
, Fri, 12 Sep 2025Chino Sy Tancontian is Sports Hero of the Year 2025
By Lito delos Reyes, , Fri, 12 Sep 2025Two (or Three) Lefts Make a Right: Francisco Guilledo to Luisito Espinosa
By Emmanuel Rivera, RRT, , Thu, 11 Sep 2025Yoseline Perez Advances to 2025 World Boxing Championships Semifinals
, Thu, 11 Sep 2025UNIFIED WORLD CHAMPION OSCAR COLLAZO HOSTS MEDIA WORKOUT
, Thu, 11 Sep 2025Jerwin Ancajas Set for IBF Mandatory Eliminator Against Former World Champ Ryosuke Nishida; Winner Fights Naoya Inoue
By Carlos Costa, , Thu, 11 Sep 2025“Night of Champions” Returns to Caribe Royale Resort in Orlando on September 19
, Thu, 11 Sep 2025Local Favorite Bryce Mills Tops First Boxing Card At del Lago Resort & Casino
, Thu, 11 Sep 2025Round 12 with Mauricio Sulaiman: It´s Fightweek Fight: Canelo vs. Crawford
By Mauricio Sulaimán, , Wed, 10 Sep 2025Casimero comeback next month in Kyrgyzstan?
By Nick Giongco, , Wed, 10 Sep 2025Team USA Concludes Day Six of 2025 World Boxing Championships
, Wed, 10 Sep 2025Andrade, Garras rule Milo marathon in Tagum
, Wed, 10 Sep 2025CROCKER-DONOVAN II: INSIDE LOOK AT FIRST FACE-OFF IN BELFAST
, Wed, 10 Sep 2025Former Panamanian WBA champ Jorge Lujan hospitalized
By Gabriel F. Cordero, , Wed, 10 Sep 2025Southern Sports Heroes Night on Sept. 28
By Lito delos Reyes, , Wed, 10 Sep 2025ABAP feels WB’s growing pains
By Joaquin Henson, , Wed, 10 Sep 2025Laurente is new Philippine super featherweight champ
By Lito delos Reyes, , Wed, 10 Sep 2025THE PAST WEEK IN ACTION 8 SEPTEMBER 2025: Nunez Outpoints Diaz; Iglesias Stops Shishkin; Valdez, Conlan Register Wins in Return
By Eric Armit, , Tue, 09 Sep 2025Dante Kirkman Stays Undefeated Triumphing with Dominant Unanimous Decision Win
, Tue, 09 Sep 2025Dream fight for Steven Sumpter vs. Undefeated Bek Nurmaganbet This Wednesday at Fontainebleau Las Vegas during ‘Canelo vs. Crawford’ Week
, Tue, 09 Sep 2025Yoseline Perez and Malachi Georges Advance to Quarterfinals with Wins on Day Five of World Boxing Championships
, Tue, 09 Sep 2025 |
|
|
|
|
|
