(Sports Network) - The public perception of Los Angeles Clippers owner Donald
Sterling doesn't quite resemble the dictionary definition of his surname.
However, the way his team has been playing this season should erase that.
The red-hot Clippers target their 11th victory in a row Wednesday night versus
the New Orleans Hornets at Staples Center, where the hosts can match a
franchise-record winning streak set by the 1974-75 Buffalo Braves.
Los Angeles completed a perfect four-game road trip with an 88-76 triumph
Monday against the Detroit Pistons as Blake Griffin scored 15 points, Jamal
Crawford ended with 15 off the bench and Chris Paul registered 14 points and
seven assists.
"I think that's the most wins I've ever had in a row since I've been in the
league," Paul said of the Clippers' 10-game win streak. "It's nice to win,
especially when you do it in a row."
Paul is nine assists shy of 5,000 in his career and is just one of two players
(Russell Westbrook) averaging at least 16 points, eight assists and two steals
this season.
The Clippers haven't lost since Nov. 26 at home to the Hornets and are riding
a five-game home winning streak. They are 10-3 at home this season and will
also welcome the Sacramento Kings on the residency.
L.A. hopes to get off to a quick start and is 13-1 when leading after the
first 12 minutes. The Clippers are 15-4 when their bench outscores the
opposition's and have posted a 13-0 mark when holding teams below 43 percent
shooting. The Clips held Detroit to 40.8 percent from the field and are fourth
in the NBA in defense (93.1 ppg).
New Orleans is heading in the opposite direction of the Clippers, having
dropped eight in a row, and will continue a four-game trek Wednesday.
The Hornets have lost the first two installments of their road swing, losing
to both Portland and Golden State. In a 103-96 setback to the Warriors on
Tuesday, Ryan Anderson connected on four 3-pointers en route to a game-high 28
points and Greivis Vasquez padded his stats with 20 points, 11 assists and
five rebounds.
"We just haven't found that closing mentality, a couple guys who can knock
down a shot or even get to the free throw line," Hornets coach Monty Williams
said.
New Orleans, which is 2-9 away from the Big Easy, is mired in a four-game road
losing streak and hasn't won as the guest since the aforementioned victory
over the Clippers last month.
The Hornets have the worst record in the Western Conference at 5-19 and will
wrap up the trip Friday at San Antonio. They have dominated this series with
the Clippers and are 17-3 in the past 20 matchups. These two clubs have split
the previous 16 encounters at Staples Center.
The Sports Network