Rowan Kavner
Score: IND 103 – LAC 91
Summary: With Chris Paul already out and J.J. Redick sidelined after the first shot of the game, an already grueling task of beating a team which lost just two games all of last month became considerably tougher.
Next Game: 12/05
A shorthanded but energetic Clippers group was up to it for three quarters against the surging Pacers before Indiana stormed out to a 16-point lead early in the fourth. A late surge brought the Clippers within five points, but it wouldn’t get closer than that in a 103-91 defeat, snapping a three-game winning streak.
Paul was ruled out before the game (ribs), while Redick sprained his right ankle on the Clippers’ first play, coming down awkwardly after a shot attempt.
C.J. Miles hit a 3-pointer at the buzzer at the end of the third quarter to break a tie, and suddenly a 69-69 game tilted entire the Pacers’ direction in the fourth quarter, as Indiana would go on to score 17 of the game’s next 18 points.
The Clippers weren’t done, though. After getting the lead down to 14, the Clippers went on an 8-0 run, but it left the Clippers with little room for error. A steal led to a dunk for the Pacers, bringing the lead back to eight. The Clippers would cut it down to five later in the quarter, but hacking Ian Mahinmi didn’t pay off with the Clippers going cold down the stretch.
Paul George had 31 points, 10 rebounds and four assists for the Pacers. The Clippers’ Lance Stephenson and Blake Griffin each finished with 19 points apiece and DeAndre Jordan led the team with 15 rebounds. But it wasn’t a bright night for the Clippers’ starting frontcourt, as Griffin went 6-for-18 and had as many turnovers as rebounds, while Jordan went 0-for-4 from the floor and 2-for-8 from the line.
The Clippers’ backups brought energy off the bench, with Stephenson leading the charge. Jamal Crawford added 16 points and Josh Smith had nine points. Six different reserves finished with at least four points.
