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Anthony Davis hurt in Pelicans' loss to Clippers

By Forrest Lee, The Sports Xchange
New Orleans Pelicans power forward Anthony Davis (23). UPI/Mark Goldman
New Orleans Pelicans power forward Anthony Davis (23). UPI/Mark Goldman | License Photo

LOS ANGELES -- Sometimes, desperate teams resort to desperate measures, guard J.J. Redick said. For the Los Angeles Clippers, it meant a renewed sense of urgency in a rout of the New Orleans Pelicans on Friday night.

Redick and forward Blake Griffin each scored 20 points, and the Clippers rolled to a 111-90 victory over the Pelicans at Staples Center.

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"We are desperate," said Redick, referring to the Clippers' recent performances, where they dropped four of their last five and eight of 11 entering the contest against the Pelicans. "We have to not look at this as something where we can ease into things or we'll eventually start winning. It's got to be now. And that seems to be the atmosphere in the locker room."

Redick, who topped 2,000 career field goals in the first quarter, connected on eight of 14 shots from the floor, including all three of his 3-pointers. Point guard Chris Paul added 17 points and eight assists for the Clippers (8-8). Guard Austin Rivers came off the bench to score 17 points against his former club.

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The Clippers also got a boost from reserve forward Lance Stephenson, who finished with 10 points, five rebounds and four assists in 26 minutes.

Anthony Davis had 17 points and six rebounds for the Pelicans (4-12), who had a three-game winning streak snapped, but the star forward left the contest late in the third quarter with a right knee contusion and did not return. Guards Eric Gordon and Ish Smith had 16 and 15 points, respectively, for New Orleans.

Davis was hurt with 2:48 left in the third with the Pelicans trailing 80-63 after colliding with Paul near midcourt. Paul darted into Davis to draw a foul as the two were running upcourt. Davis immediately grabbed his right knee before slumping to the hardwood. He was carried off by two teammates.

Davis' injury led to a series of technical fouls on Pelicans assistant coach Robert Pack, injured New Orleans center Kendrick Perkins, forward Ryan Anderson and Paul.

Davis still wasn't pleased about the incident after the game. Asked if he thought it was intentional, he said "no comment."

Pelicans coach Alvin Gentry also was tight-lipped.

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"You saw it. I don't have anything to say about it. You make your own judgment," Gentry said when he was asked if it was a dirty play.

Paul denied any intent in trying to hurt Davis.

Regardless, Davis' loss wouldn't have altered the outcome, Gentry said.

"I didn't think we competed at the beginning of the game," Gentry said. "I think the physicality at the start was totally in their favor and they controlled the game from start to finish. We didn't compete like we needed to and in this situation, you can't afford to take two steps forward and one back. It's not the loss that matters the most, it's how it happened and the approach that we had."

The Clippers closed on a 19-4 spurt for a 63-42 cushion at the break. Los Angeles shot 68.4 percent to 34.6 percent for New Orleans in the second quarter, when it outscored the Pelicans 35-24. For the half, the Clippers hit 54.3 percent of their attempts compared to only 36.2 percent for the Pelicans. The Clippers also enjoyed a considerable edge in fast-break points, 19-4. For the game, they outscored the Pelicans 28-14.

Overall, Los Angeles made 48.2 percent of their shots to 36.2 for New Orleans.

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The Pelicans cut the gap to 14 late in the third quarter but got no closer the rest of the way.

"As far as putting a complete game together, that was a much better showing than we have had," said Griffin, who scored 13 of his points in the first half. "It has been a while. We are going in the right direction now, but we have to keep it going that way."

Los Angeles guard Jamal Crawford, who finished with nine points, passed Juwan Howard for No. 100 on the all-time scoring list with 16,162 points.

NOTES: Pelicans G/F Tyreke Evans could make his season debut Saturday when New Orleans visits the Utah Jazz. Evans, who began practicing with the team Monday, underwent arthroscopic surgery on his right knee Oct. 20. "We just want to make sure that he's completely healthy and be able to do what he does rather than stick him out there and have him have doubts," Pelicans coach Alvin Gentry said. "He wants to be out there, believe me." ... The Clippers were tied with the Houston Rockets for the most technical fouls (10) entering Friday's contest. Clippers F Blake Griffin was the league-leader with five. ... Los Angeles hosts the Minnesota Timberwolves on Sunday.

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