Rowan Kavner
LOS ANGELES – All the buildup of frustration turned into sheer jubilation, with Blake Griffin and Jamal Crawford sharing a hug at half court.
The duo led the Clippers’ late charge, and on a night where a failure to box out allowed the Magic (11-9) to secure 15 offensive rebounds 22 second-chance points, the Clippers (11-9) saved all the energy and effort for the end with a 13-0 fourth-quarter run to take a lead they wouldn’t surrender again in a 103-101 win.
Next Game: 12/07
Griffin finished with 28 points, 13 rebounds and seven assists. Crawford led all Clippers with 32 points, half of which came in the fourth quarter. Johnson scored 21 points off the bench and already had a season-high 15 by halftime.
With the Clippers trailing, 96-86, Griffin and Crawford scored 11 of the Clippers’ next 13 points to take a 99-96 lead, making enough stops at the other end to snap the Magic’s five-game winning streak and turn their own six-game home stand into a winning one.
Trailing by seven points midway through the fourth quarter, Doc Rivers put his hands on his hips in disbelief as all five Clippers players on the court stood watching, failing to box out and allowing Orlando to secure its second offensive rebound of the same possession.
The Magic scored another five points, when a flip seemed to switch.
A lethargic group suddenly awoke. The ball movement ramped up, the spacing allowed for open shots, the Clippers started boxing out and they got on the run the way they want to play.
The Clippers outscored the Magic by seven points in the fourth quarter. Crawford and Johnson each had six 3-pointers on the night, and their 12 3-pointers were the most the Clippers had scored since Nov. 19.
