NBA

Wed, Mar 23, 2011 - 10:30 PM ET
Game Recap
 

Griffin, Gordon outlast Wizards

John Wall & Blake Griffin (Photo by Noah Graham/NBAE via Getty Images)
Blake Griffin and John Wall each have big games Wednesday night.
Share This Story

     
 

LOS ANGELES (AP)

One night after Staples Center hosted its first triple-overtime matchup in the arena's 12-year history, the Clippers and Washington Wizards apparently caught the bug.

Blake Griffin posted his first career triple-double and Eric Gordon scored 32 points to help the Clippers beat the Wizards 127-119 in double OT on Wednesday night.

''It means a lot, but the best part about it was getting the win,'' Griffin said after finishing with 33 points, 17 rebounds and 10 assists in a career-high 51 1/2 minutes.

''It's always great to keep your teammates involved and keep them going, but you also have to give credit to these guys for hitting shots. It was pretty draining. We just needed to tough it out.''

As a footnote to his first triple-double, Griffin also got his 55th double-double - tying the Clippers' single-season record that Elton Brand set in 2001-02.

Mo Williams added 17 points and 10 assists after getting only two points through the first three quarters, and Randy Foye hit a clinching 3-pointer in the final minute.

''We showed some pretty good resiliency in the way we gutted it out and made some plays down the stretch,'' coach Vinny Del Negro said. ''Nothing is easy in this league, and we battled through it.''

Chris Kaman, starting in place of the injured DeAndre Jordan, had 18 points and 12 rebounds for the Clippers, who won their first overtime game this season in five tries.

nba best dunks

Jam session

Check out some of the best dunks of the NBA season.

But it shouldn't have come to those extra 10 minutes. Los Angeles committed 25 turnovers, which the Wizards converted into 31 points.

''It was our carelessness,'' said Gordon, who had all five of his turnovers in the first overtime period. ''We probably just moved a little too fast and that gave us fewer opportunities to score.''

Wizards guard John Wall tied it at 102 with a running floater over the outstretched arm of the 7-foot Kaman with 19 seconds left in the fourth quarter, and Griffin missed a 3-point attempt at the other end with a second on the clock.

Gordon sent it into a second OT for the Clippers with a 3-pointer out of a timeout with 1.9 seconds left in the first overtime.

Wall led Washington with 32 points and 10 assists, and Jordan Crawford had 25 points on 10-for-28 shooting after missing his first seven shots. JaVale McGee added 22 points and 13 rebounds.

''It's tough to lose this game. We did everything we had to do,'' Wall said. ''We fought hard, but down the stretch I missed a free throw that could have put us up by four and they just got the stops they needed. We didn't close it out.''

Washington is 1-33 on the road - the only victory coming against league-worst Cleveland on Feb. 13. The Wizards have seven chances left to avoid tying the worst road record for a regulation season in NBA history, set by the 1-40 Sacramento Kings in 1990-91.

''They're hurting in there, and they should be,'' coach Flip Saunders said. ''You get beat by 34 last night in Portland, you have a back-to-back, you get in late, and our guys still came out and competed. We played a lot of young guys, and our backcourt found a way to keep us in the game.''

In a matchup of the No. 1 overall picks from the 2009 and 2010 drafts - and the top two scorers this season among rookies - Griffin made 14 of 19 shots and Wall was 12 of 26. Wall's only triple-double was on Nov. 10 against Houston.

The Wizards trailed by as many as 12 points after one quarter and didn't take their first lead until Crawford's 3-pointer put them ahead 69-68 with 3:01 left in the third.

Notes: Jordan missed his second straight game with pneumonia. ... The Clippers have to go no worse than 6-5 the rest of the way to avoid reaching the 50-loss mark for the fourth straight season and 22nd time in the past 30 years, including their final three in San Diego. ... Eight rookies played in the game, five for Washington. ... The Wizards have lost the last 13 games in which they allowed 30 or more points by an opposing player. ... Griffin came within one assist of a triple-double on March 5 against Denver, and was within two assists on two other occasions.

Tagged: Clippers, Wizards, Eric Gordon, Mo Williams, DeAndre Jordan, Jordan Crawford, John Wall

Related Stories

Member Comments

Please note by clicking on "add a comment" you acknowledge that you have read the Terms of Use and the comment you are posting is in compliance with such terms. Be polite. Inappropriate posts may be removed by the moderator.

ADD A COMMENT
    PREV PREV   NEXT NEXT    
ADD A COMMENT
    PREV PREV   NEXT NEXT    

Trending Now

NBA Videos

Heat focused on Game 2 Posted: May 30, 2012
Hear from the Miami Heat as they talk about their Game 2 matchup against the Bos...

Heat look to contain Boston's Big Four Posted: May 30, 2012
Dwayne Wade and LeBron James talk about Boston's Big Four and what they must do ...

Heat torch Celtics in Game 1 Posted: May 29, 2012
Hear from the Miami Heat after their win over the Boston Celtics in Game 1.

Fox Sports Store

    itemName itemURL imageSrc price itemDescription
    adidas Kobe Bryant Los Angeles Lakers Revolution 30 Swingman Performance Jersey-Gold http://www.foxsportsshop.com/FOX_Los_Angeles_Lakers/browse/featuredproduct/491688/source/prsp_ca http://images.footballfanatics.com/FFImage/thumb.aspx?i=/productImages/_491000/ff_491688_xl.jpg&w=100 89.95 adidas Kobe Bryant Los Angeles Lakers Revolution 30 Swingman Performance Jersey-..
    adidas LeBron James Miami Heat Revolution 30 Swingman Performance Jersey-Black http://www.foxsportsshop.com/FOX_Miami_Heat/browse/featuredproduct/498609/source/prsp_ca http://images.footballfanatics.com/FFImage/thumb.aspx?i=/productImages/_498000/ff_498609_xl.jpg&w=100 89.95 adidas LeBron James Miami Heat Revolution 30 Swingman Performance Jersey-Black
    \'47 Brand Orlando Magic Black Hardwood Classics Franchise Fitted Hat http://www.foxsportsshop.com/FOX_Orlando_Magic/browse/featuredproduct/505997/source/prsp_ca http://images.footballfanatics.com/FFImage/thumb.aspx?i=/productImages/_505000/ff_505997_xl.jpg&w=100 23.95 \'47 Brand Orlando Magic Black Hardwood Classics Franchise Fitted Hat
    New Era Dallas Mavericks Black Primary Logo 59FIFTY Flat Bill Fitted Hat http://www.foxsportsshop.com/FOX_Dallas_Mavericks/browse/featuredproduct/614631/source/prsp_ca http://images.footballfanatics.com/FFImage/thumb.aspx?i=/productImages/_614000/ff_614631_xl.jpg&w=100 34.95 New Era Dallas Mavericks Black Primary Logo 59FIFTY Flat Bill Fitted Hat
    Boston Celtics Team Mascot Gnome http://www.foxsportsshop.com/FOX_Boston_Celtics/browse/featuredproduct/617849/source/prsp_ca http://images.footballfanatics.com/FFImage/thumb.aspx?i=/productImages/_617000/ff_617849_xl.jpg&w=100 24.95 Boston Celtics Team Mascot Gnome
    Mitchell & Ness Houston Rockets Red Solid Script Snapback Adjustable Hat http://www.foxsportsshop.com/FOX_Houston_Rockets/browse/featuredproduct/692238/source/prsp_ca http://images.footballfanatics.com/FFImage/thumb.aspx?i=/productImages/_692000/ff_692238_xl.jpg&w=100 25.95 Mitchell & Ness Houston Rockets Red Solid Script Snapback Adjustable Hat