Advertisement

Clippers 116, Kings 81

LOS ANGELES - Behind a concentrated team effort, the Los Angeles Clippers easily handled the visiting Sacramento Kings on Saturday night, 116-81, at Staples Center.

Seven Clippers scored in double-figures, but none more than reserve guard Jamal Crawford's 17 points as Los Angeles head coach Vinny Del Negro emptied out the bench. Ten Clippers played between 17 and 29 minutes, and Los Angeles never let Sacramento back into the game after building a big early lead.

The Clippers (10-6) won for the second consecutive game after a surprising home loss to New Orleans on Nov. 26, while Sacramento has lost three straight and 12 of 16 games to open the season.

Chris Paul, Blake Griffin and Eric Bledsoe each had 14 points for the Clippers, who shot 55 percent from the field while holding the Kings to just 38 percent shooting.

Worse for Sacramento, Los Angeles committed just five turnovers -- including one by its starting lineup -- while forcing 17 by the Kings.

Marcus Thornton had 20 points to lead Sacramento, Jason Thompson added 16 points and 12 rebounds and Isaiah Thomas had 14 points off the bench.

One thing that pointed to the strength of the Clippers' balance and depth: Los Angeles claimed a 58-34 halftime advantage without a single player scoring in double figures.

The Clippers took a 17-6 lead midway through the first quarter and continued to apply the pressure, increasing the lead to 22 with just less than seven minutes left in the second quarter. By then, 10 Clippers had scored and Los Angeles had already made 19 of 34 shots.

Jordan finished with nine points in the first half, including a rebound tip-in as the first half was about to end, and Griffin added eight points for the Clippers, who committed just four first-half turnovers.

Thompson had nine points at the half to lead Sacramento, which shot just 13 of 39 from the field.

NOTES: Sacramento guard Tyreke Evans, listed as questionable before the game, missed the contest with a bruised left knee. ... Even without Evans, Sacramento guard Jimmer Fredette, whose minutes have been wildly inconsistent, did not play in the first half after getting almost 18 minutes in a 97-92 loss to Indiana on Friday. Fredette had a season-high 18 points in his last appearance at Staples Center in a 103-90 loss to the Los Angeles Lakers on Nov. 11. ... Los Angeles swept the season series between the two teams last season, 3-0.