Two weeks ago, the Los Angeles Clippers lost superstar Blake Griffin. They haven’t lost since.
Chris Paul scored 25 points to lead a guard-oriented attack Saturday and the Clippers won their eighth straight game, a 97-83 home victory over the slumping Charlotte Hornets.
Jamal Crawford scored 19 points and J.J. Redick added 17 for the Clippers (24-13), who lost Griffin to a partially torn left quadriceps tendon in a win over the Lakers on Christmas. They have won seven games without their All-Star power forward, using a combination of defense and new lineups.
“I think we all had to step up by committee,” said Paul, who added seven assists and seven rebounds. “We are moving the ball and we are putting a huge emphasis on defense. The only way we can really score without the big fella is if we defend and get out in transition.”
Griffin is a huge piece for the Clippers, averaging 23.2 points, 8.7 rebounds and 5.0 assists. In his absence, they have relied on smaller lineups and Paul’s chemistry with centre DeAndre Jordan, who had 11 points, 19 rebounds and four blocks.
“Offensively, there is a lot of spacing, a lot of room to operate,” said Redick, who made 3-of-5 three-pointers.
“The DeAndre Jordan-Chris Paul pick-and-roll has been really good. Having Paul (Pierce) as a stretch forward has been really good. It is a different look. It is not better per se than having Blake on the floor, but it is a different look and it has given teams problems.”
So has the defense, which has allowed an average of just 92.3 points over the last four games. Los Angeles matched a season low for points allowed, holding Charlotte below 37 per cent (31-of-84) from the field and Hornets leading scorer Kemba Walker to 11 points, nearly nine below his average.
“We have really embraced the defensive side of basketball, and really before Blake got hurt we had done that,” Redick said.
The Clippers squandered an early 11-point lead and trailed, 46-43, at halftime. But Paul and Jordan scored seven points each in the third quarter as Los Angeles reclaimed a 70-64 lead entering the final period.
The Hornets got no closer as Crawford scored seven points in the fourth quarter, including a three-pointer that made it 91-79 with 3:02 to go.
“Our first unit came back and set the tone in the fourth quarter and our bench carried it through,” Clippers coach Doc Rivers said.
Jeremy Lin scored 26 points and Jeremy Lamb added 18 for the Hornets (17-19), who again were without injured starters Al Jefferson and Nicolas Batum of France and have lost six in a row.
“We just have to will a way out of this funk that we are in right now,” Lin said.

Elsewhere
Golden State Warriors 128, Sacramento Kings 116: Stephen Curry totaled 38 points and 11 assists as the league-leading Warriors (35-2) won their sixth straight game. DeMarcus Cousins had 33 points and 10 rebounds for the host Kings.

Atlanta Hawks 120, Chicago Bulls 105: Dominican Republic native Al Horford scored a season-high 33 points with 10 rebounds, six assists and four blocks for the host Hawks, who ended the Bulls’ six-game winning streak. Jimmy Butler scored 27 points for Chicago.

Detroit Pistons 103, Brooklyn Nets 89: Reggie Jackson and Andre Drummond scored 23 points apiece as the host Pistons won their third in a row and handed the Nets their fourth consecutive loss.

Utah Jazz 98, Miami Heat 83: Gordon Hayward scored 34 points as the Jazz ended a three-game losing streak. Chris Bosh scored 24 for the Heat, who fell to 1-1 on their six-game road trip.

Washington Wizards 105, Orlando Magic 99: John Wall had 24 points and 10 assists as the visiting Wizards stopped a three-game slide. Montenegro’s Nikola Vucevic scored 23 points for the Magic, who have dropped five of six.

Toronto Raptors 108, Philadelphia 76ers 95: Kyle Lowry scored 25 points for the visiting Raptors, who have won three straight. Ish Smith scored 28 for the 76ers.