March 12--The Clippers defeated the New York Knicks, 101-94, on Friday night at Staples Center.
Here are five takeaways from the game:
1) The Clippers called on Jeff Green to play heavy minutes because Luc Mbah a Moute (cut left eyelid) and Paul Pierce (sore right big toe) were both out with injuries.
Green played almost 45 minutes Friday night, looking weary at times late in the fourth quarter.
He was six of 11 shooting from the field, one of two from three-point range and finished with 17 points.
Green also had to defend Carmelo Anthony and Kristaps Porzingis at different times.
2) Wesley Johnson had his hands full trying to defend the 7-foot-3 Porzingis throughout the game.
Johnson is 6-7 and he was constantly trying to lean on the lengthy Porzingis.
Porzingis had 23 points, but Johnson made the rookie forward work hard for everything he got.
3) DeAndre Jordan was a defensive force yet again.
He had six blocked shots, but he also intimidated some of the Knicks.
Jordan had four blocks in the fourth quarter, two in the final 30 seconds when the Clippers were trying to hold onto their lead.
4) Clippers Coach Doc Rivers said the team would not be signing forward Alex Stepheson for the rest of the season after his second 10-day contract expires Saturday.
Stepheson played in only four games, averaging 2.9 minutes per game.
5) All five of the Clippers' starters scored in double figures and all five of them had a plus in the plus-minus category.
J.J. Redick had a plus-13, Johnson a plus-12, Paul a plus-eight and both Jordan and Green a plus-seven.
Twitter Broderick Turner on Twitter: @BA_Turner
