Feb. 07--The Clippers blew a 20-point lead and lost to the Toronto Raptors on Friday, 123-107, in the second game on back-to-back nights.
This is the first time the Clippers have lost three in a row this season.
The Raptors cut the Clippers' 20-point lead in the first quarter to two at halftime, 59-57. Then in the third quarter, the Raptors outscored the Clippers, 34-19 -- coincidentally, the same amount the Raptors were outscored by in the first -- to lead by as many as 16 points in the quarter. The Raptors held control in the fourth, pushing their advantage to 24 points.
Clippers Coach Doc Rivers waved the white flag with 4 minutes 31 seconds left, subbing out starters Blake Griffin, DeAndre Jordan, Chris Paul and Matt Barnes.
Griffin, who hung his head in his hands as the final buzzer sounded, led the Clippers with 26 points, nine assists and six rebounds. Paul had 22 points, nine assists and six rebounds. Jordan, who was playing despite a stomach virus, finished with nine points and seven rebounds. Austin Rivers, who started for J.J. Redick, contributed 12 points, four steals and two assists with only one turnover.
The Raptors made 13 three-pointers, more than double the Clippers (six). The Raptors also outrebounded the Clippers, 42-30.
Seven Raptors finished in double figures, with DeMar DeRozan leading Toronto with 24 points, nine rebounds and eight assists. Kyle Lowry added 21 points.
The Clippers are 2-4 on their eight-game trip. Before falling to the Raptors, they had consecutive losses to Brooklyn and Cleveland.
The loss dropped the Clippers from fifth to sixth in the Western Conference standings with a record of 33-18. The Raptors, who are in second place in the East, improved to 34-17.
Losing the second leg of back-to-back games is a rare occurrence for the Clippers, who fell to 9-4 on such occasions.
The Clippers' next game is Sunday at Oklahoma City.
