Clippers trounce Mavericks
LOS ANGELES (AP) — Blake Griffin had 26 points and 10 rebounds, and Jamal Crawford added 15 points in the Clippers’ 104-88 victory over the Dallas Mavericks on Thursday night in Los Angeles’ home opener.
DeAndre Jordan had six points, 15 rebounds and four blocked shots in his first game against the Mavericks since his summer misadventures in Dallas. Jordan tentatively agreed to join the Mavs as a free agent before the Clippers’ top brass and players descended on his Houston home and persuaded him to return to Los Angeles, infuriating owner Mark Cuban and Dallas fans.
Austin Rivers scored 14 points for the Clippers, who pulled away easily in the second half with a strong bench performance.
Dirk Nowitzki scored 16 points for the Mavericks, who p l a y e d without injured starting guards Deron Williams and Wesley Matthews.
From the opening minutes, it was clear that the clubs’ offseason conflict over Jordan only amped up the feelings in this lively Western Conference rivalry.
“I’m sure, from the human standpoint, (the game)
has something in it because of all the stuff that happened,” Clippers coach Doc Rivers said.
After Cuban disparaged the Clippers in pregame remarks, trash talk was abundant on the court and from both benches. The teams combined for four technical fouls and a series of hard personal fouls, including a heavy foul from Nowitzki that left Jordan flexing and yelling instead of fighting.
The Mavs also engaged in Hack-aTop DJ tactics late in the first half, sending the inept Jordan to the free throw line eight times.
HAWKS 112, KNICKS 101 In New York, Jeff Teague scored 23 points, Al Horford added 21 and Atlanta beat New York for its first victory of the season.
Looking more like the team that won 60 games last season and had the best record in the Eastern Conference than the one that was beaten badly at home in its opener, the Hawks shot 51 percent from the field.
Kyle Korver had 15 points and Paul Millsap added 11 points and 11 rebounds for Atlanta.
Carmelo Anthony scored 25 points and was 10 for 27 from the field for New York, while Robin Lopez finished with 18 points. GRIZZLIES 112, PACERS 103 In Indianapolis, Marc Gasol scored 20 points and Mike Conley added 13 points and 10 assists for Memphis.
The Grizzlies (1-1) had seven players score in double figures and closed it out by outscoring Indiana 18-7 over the final 3:49.