LOS ANGELES — Forward Blake Griffin scored 22 points and recorded nine rebounds, and the Los Angeles Clippers held off a late charge by the Boston Celtics for a 102-93 victory on Monday at Staples Center.
Center DeAndre Jordan added 19 points, 12 rebounds and six blocks for the Clippers (28-14), who won their second straight game. Guards J.J. Redick and Jamal Crawford finished with 16 points apiece.
The Celtics (13-25) dropped their third in a row and eighth in the past 10 contests. They also fell to a Western Conference opponent on the road for the 24th consecutive time. Forward Brandon Bass led six Boston players with 17 points, while guard Marcus Thornton scored 15. Forward Jared Sullinger and guard Marcus Smart had 14 points each.
Los Angeles led 89-78 after a bucket by Crawford with 6:30 remaining in the game, but the Celtics used a 10-2 surge to close within 91-88 after a 3-pointer by Thornton with 3:50 left. However, the Celtics failed to get any closer as the Clippers got a bucket from reserve center Spencer Hawes and four free throws from Griffin.
The Clippers led by as much as 23 points in the third quarter before the Celtics rallied. A dunk by Bass 4.2 seconds before the end of the period sliced the deficit to 74-62. Griffin scored 10 points on 5-of-7 shooting in the quarter.
Los Angeles grabbed a 47-37 lead at the break behind Crawford’s 12 points, all of them coming in the second quarter. The Clippers converted 43.9 percent (18 of 41) of their shots to 29.2 percent (14 of 48) for Boston.
Overall, the Clippers shot 47.6 percent (39 of 82) from the floor to 39.3 percent (33 of 84) for the Celtics. Los Angeles edged Boston from 3-point range by connecting on nine of 21 attempts (42.9 percent) compared to 12 of 29 (41.4 percent).
NOTES: Clippers coach Doc Rivers applauded the Celtics’ recent flurry of moves, which included a deal for his son, guard Austin Rivers, but he acknowledged he left Boston for Los Angeles because he didn’t want to experience a rebuilding project. “I asked (general manager) Danny (Ainge) jokingly, ‘Do you know how many picks you have?’ It’s amazing what they’ve done in the short term,” Rivers said. … Celtics coach Brad Stevens on the frequent roster changes: “I think certainly (it) can be very discouraging, very frustrating, but every time you feel that way you try to re-center yourself on the phrase ‘coach your team.’” … Boston rookie G/F James Young missed his second straight game with an undisclosed illness. … The two teams will meet again March 29 at Boston. … The Celtics resume their six-game road swing Thursday at the Portland Trail Blazers. … The Clippers host the Brooklyn Nets on Thursday.