In a battle of elite point guards,Chris Paulcontinued his dominance overJohn Wall,as he led the Clippers past the Wizards on Monday night.
Despite playing their second game withoutBlake Griffin, Paul had plenty of help as four Clippers were in double-figures in a game where Los Angeles never trailed.
Paul ended the night with 23 points whileJamal Crawfordfollowed closely behind with 21.DeAndre Jordanhad another double-double night as he had 15 points and 13 rebounds.
Wesley Johnsonprovided 14 points off the bench while back-up big manCole Aldrichchipped in a cool 13.
More from Los Angeles Clippers
- LA Clippers: Ty Lue promoted to head coach
- Los Angeles Clippers: Doc Rivers shockingly out as head coach
- LA Clippers: Where does the team go from here?
- LA Clippers: 2019-20 Season has been a huge failure
- LA Clippers: The hype was real but the execution wasn’t
Paul took over highlight reel duties without his co-captain as he made not one but two dunks that ignited the crowd. While the Clippers floor general is well known for his work below the rim, a leap to the basket is unheard of for the six-foot guard.
Paul acknowledged the moment by holding up his arms triumphantly toward his teammates.
John Wallhad a phenomenal night to lead the Wizards withoutBradley Beal. Wall had 23 points and 5 rebounds. He also had 11 assists, four more than Paul, as well as a block and a steal.
More fromLA Sports Hub
- Lakers: 5 Players to Target Through Trades to make another championship run
- LA Chargers: Week 8 against Denver Broncos is a must-win
- LA Rams: Jared Goff wants to keep the Los Angeles title streak going
- Lakers Rumors: Los Angeles Clippers interested in Rajon Rondo
- LA Chargers: Justin Herbert wins AFC Rookie of the Month
Despite having the superior stat line, it was Paul’s ability to impose his will on the game that made the difference. It should be noted,John Wallhas only one win against aChris Paulled team.
On the Wizards side,Otto Porterhad 21 points off the bench, whileMarcin Gortathad 12.
The game was alsoPaul Pierce‘s first game in Washington since leaving the Wizards after last season. Pierce was greeted warmly by fans and acknowledged that he enjoyed his time in Washington with both the team and the community.
The Clippers have now won three straight games going back to their victory over the Lakers on Christmas Day. The victory puts the team in a great rhythm despite being without their star player on the road.
Following a gutsy win over the Utah Jazz, the game against the Wizards was expected to be a tough test, as the team is now a playoff regular in the Eastern Conference. The Clippers will play in Charlotte and New Orleans before returning to the Staples Center on Saturday.
The schedule is noticeably lighter on the Clippers for the most of the up-coming month, however the team remains in search of a win over an elite team in the NBA.
Their next high-profile opportunity could come in January in a big way as the team is set to face the Miami Heat and last years finalists — the Cleveland Cavaliers.
Next: LA Clippers Should Embrace The Middle
For now, the team looks to get back to the Los Angeles at above .500 on the road trip and remain in the hunt until they are back at full power with Griffin.
Loading recommendations... Please wait while we load personalized content recommendations
