Clippers easily beat James, Cavs

Beating LeBron James and the Cavaliers was a statement game to the Los Angeles Clippers only in that it lifted them into the eighth and final Western Conference playoff spot.

DeAndre Jordan had 20 points and 23 rebounds and Tobias Harris scored 23 points in a 116-102 victory Friday night. The Clippers hold the eighth spot by percentage points over Utah and Denver.

“In the West, (seeds) 3 through 8 is like two, three games apart,” Austin Rivers said. “That’s nuts, man. The fact that if we won six games in a row we could be the third seed but if we lose, we’re out.” The Clippers led most of the game, coming out energized at the start and shooting 50 percent in the first quarter while taking an 18-point lead.

“We moved the ball, played fast and attacked,” Clippers coach Doc Rivers said. “Our defense was tremendous. LeBron is eventually going to get some, but we guarded everyone else.” James had 25 points and 10 rebounds, and Jordan Clarkson added 21 points for the Cavaliers, whose five-game road winning streak ended. Larry Nance Jr. had 16 points and 12 rebounds.

James shot 11 of 20 from the field and was 3 of 7 from 3-point range. Much of the time he was guarded by rookie Sindarius Thornwell.

“You’re not going to block his shot,” Thornwell said. “Just stay in front of him and make it tough for him. It takes a team to slow him down, it wasn’t just me.” Montrezl Harrell also had 20 points for the Clippers, who controlled the boards 52-40. They owned advantages in the paint (58-42) and second-chance points (25-8).

“It was exhausting,” Nance said. “They’ve got some big, talented dudes down there.” Los Angeles got balanced scoring with six players in double figures, and plenty of help in containing James in the first half when he had just eight points.

“We wanted to load up and give him (Thornwell) as much help as possible,” Jordan said. “We knew how important this game was.” Cleveland made a final stand in the fourth, as George Hill’s 3-pointer got the Cavs to 110102 before the Clippers scored the game’s final six points./