Washington: Blake Griffin scored 34 points and set up two crucial baskets that sparked the Los Angeles Clippers to a 105-103 over-time NBA victory over the Detroit Pistons on Monday.
The star power forward assisted on JJ Redick’s game-tying 3-pointer with 19.6 remaining in regulation time and flipped the ball to reserve Jamal Crawford ahead of his go-ahead 3-pointer with 12.4 seconds remaining in over-time among seven assists as the visiting Clippers improved to 15-10.
“People look at the power, the speed and the dunks. They miss the best part of his game and that’s his passing,” Clippers coach Doc Rivers said of Griffin. Players talked Rivers out of his plans to set up the plays that led to the key 3-pointers.
“It was really one of those games where you listen to them,” Rivers said. “They were so into the game, they had a great feel. Sometimes as a coach you say, ‘No, I’ll go with my stuff.’ Sometimes, you go with theirs,” he added.
Detroit couldn’t convert three put-back attempts after a missed free throw in the final seconds. Reggie Jackson led Detroit with 34 points, 11 rebounds and seven assists. Redick had 24 points while Chris Paul had 13 points and 12 assists for the Clippers.
Kawhi Leonard scored 22 points, while LaMarcus Aldridge and Tony Parker each added 18 points as the San Antonio Spurs ripped Utah 118-81, improving to 13-0 at home this season, their best home-court start since 2007.
Miami too hot for Atlanta Hawks
In Atlanta, Chris Bosh had 24 points and 10 rebounds to power the Miami Heat over the host Hawks 100-88. The Heat had lost seven games in a row to the Hawks and last won in Atlanta in 2013.
Miami guard Goran Dragic had a tooth knocked out by an accidental elbow from Atlanta forward Al Horford. The Slovenian returned from the locker room to finish with 12 points, eight points and seven rebounds. “I think we all learned a little something about him tonight,” Heat forward Dwyane Wade said of Dragic.
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