NEW YORK, Dec. 12 (UPI) -- Andray Blatche and Joe Johnson both scored 21 points in staking Brooklyn to a big lead Thursday and the Nets hung on to defeat the Los Angeles Clippers 102-93.
Brooklyn's best stretch of basketball this season has brought the Nets a three-game winning streak and they moved within a game of Boston for the lead in the weak Atlantic Division.
The Clippers fell to 3-3 on a seven-game road trip that will end on Saturday in Washington.
Brooklyn took a 21-point lead into the fourth quarter. Blatche and Johnson combined to hit 15-of-24 shots from the field and Brook Lopez added 16 points and seven rebounds.
Chris Paul led the Clippers with 20 points while Jamal Crawford had 19. Blake Griffin made only 2-of-8 shots from the field and scored 12 points in 30 minutes.
