SACRAMENTO, Calif. _ For three quarters Friday night, the lopsided score and even more lopsided statistics were all about the dominance of the Los Angeles Clippers over the Sacramento Kings.
The Clippers built what looked like a comfortable 26-point lead in the first half and it was still what seemed like a safe 19-point cushion entering the fourth quarter at Golden 1 Center.
But as that lead began to wither away in the fourth quarter, the Clippers were forced to hold on for a 121-115 victory over the Kings.
Leading the Kings' charge was DeMarcus Cousins, who had 38 points, 13 rebounds and seven assists.
After taking the comfortable edge, the Clippers stopped playing defense.
The next thing they knew, the lead was down to 117-114 after Darren Collison made a three-pointer with 2:23 to play and then to 117-115 when Matt Barnes made one of two free throws after he stripped Blake Griffin on defense.
But Chris Paul found DeAndre Jordan for a lob dunk, then made two of four free throws for the final margin.
It never looked like it would be close after a first quarter when the Clippers (11-2) shot 70 percent and took a 40-24 lead.
It was the most points the Clippers have scored in a quarter this season.
They scored 73 points in the first half, also the most they have scored in a half this season.
They shot 70.3 percent from the field in the first 24 minutes, tied for their highest field-goal percentage in a half since the 2002-03 season at Memphis.
The Clippers actually even topped that with their first-half three-point shooting, making a sizzling 76.9 percent (10 for 13) from three-point range. Their 10 made three-pointers were a season-high.
J.J. Redick was the most blistering of all of the Clippers in that first half.
Redick put on a shooting display, making all six of his three-pointers. By finishing the second half of Wednesday night's game against Memphis at Staples Center going seven for seven from three-point range, Redick had made 13 consecutive three-pointers before he missed his first three-pointer in the third.
He had 22 points in the first half and finished with 26.
In the first quarter, Redick got most of his help from Blake Griffin, who scored 15 of his 29 points in the opening 12 minutes.
Even Jordan got in on the fun, getting the ball down low and showing off some offensive moves in scoring six of his 16 points in the first quarter. Jordan also had 12 rebounds.
The only starter who was not looking to score was Paul, who was wearing a small pad underneath a black shirt to protect his right shoulder that was injured during the game against the Grizzlies.
