Paul, Griffin help Clippers extend winning streak to 7 games
An insanely deep Western Conference has overshadowed how well the Los Angeles Clippers are playing.
The Clippers extended their winning streak to seven games with a 120-100 blowout win over the New Orleans Pelicans on Saturday. Chris Paul and Blake Griffin led another well-rounded attack by Los Angeles, which used a 39-point third quarter to break the game open and had five players score in double figures.
Paul had 18 points and dropped a season-high 16 assists, while Griffin scored a game-high 30 points on 10-of-15 shooting from the field.
J.J. Redick added 21 points, connecting on 5-of-9 shots from long range, and Jamal Crawford chipped in with 20 points off the bench.
Anthony Davis dropped a team-high 26 points for the Pelicans on 9-of-15 shooting.
The West is so loaded that the Clippers have barely been able to make ground over their hot stretch. Despite a 14-5 record, the Clippers are looking up to five teams in the conference.
| Team | Record | Streak |
|---|---|---|
| Golden State Warriors | 17-2 | Won 12 |
| Houston Rockets | 16-4 | Won 4 |
| Portland Trail Blazers | 15-4 | Won 3 |
| Memphis Grizzlies | 15-4 | Lost 2 |
| San Antonio Spurs | 15-5 | Won 2 |
| Los Angeles Clippers | 14-5 | Won 7 |
| Dallas Mavericks | 15-6 | Lost 1 |
Los Angeles has been executing on both ends of the floor early on.
Before dropping 120 on the Pelicans, the Clippers entered Saturday ranked third in points scored per 100 possessions, while placing 10th in points allowed per 100 possessions. Playing well on both sides of the ball is necessary in the NBA, and it's a recipe a number of the best teams in the West have used to jump ahead in the standings.
The Golden State Warriors, Memphis Grizzlies and Portland Trail Blazers all have top 10 offensive and defensive ratings, too.
It's no secret that the Western Conference is perpetually better than the East, but it feels like it has risen to new heights this season. The Dallas Mavericks, for instance, are the No. 7 seed and have won as many games as the Eastern Conference-best Toronto Raptors.
While some of these teams will naturally cool off, none of the top seven appear to be smoke and mirrors. These are all good teams that were expected to do well.
The Clippers get the Phoenix Suns next before playing five consecutive games against Eastern Conference teams. Los Angeles' winning streak has a very real chance to extend into double digits.