LOS ANGELES — Forward Blake Griffin scored 18 points to lead six players in double figures, and the Los Angeles Clippers hammered the Los Angeles Lakers 106-78 on Sunday night at Staples Center.
Center DeAndre Jordan had 16 points, 11 rebounds and four steals for the Clippers (52-26), winners of three in a row and 10 of their last 11 games. They also stayed a 1/2-game ahead of the San Antonio Spurs for the No. 4 spot in the Western Conference playoff race.
Forward Matt Barnes added 14 points, shooting guard J.J Redick scored 12 and point guard Chris Paul finished with 15 assists to go along with seven points.
Forward Wesley Johnson led the Lakers with 16 points. Center Tarik Black and reserve guard Jabari Brown were the only other Lakers to reach double figures with 10 points each.
The Lakers (20-56) set a franchise record for losses in a season, topping last season’s mark (27-55) under former coach Mike D’Antoni. They also lost for the sixth straight contest to the Clippers and the third time this season. And, the Clippers limited them to the lowest point total in their all-time series.
The two teams meet again Tuesday.
The Clippers never trailed. They began dominating midway through the second period and never let up, allowing coach Doc Rivers to empty his bench with more than six minutes left in the game.
The Clippers led 26-21 before using a 13-1 run for a 39-22 advantage after an alley-oop dunk by Jordan on a pass from Paul with 4:38 remaining in the second quarter. They pushed the lead to 16 before taking a 49-36 lead at the half. The Lakers failed to slice the margin below double digits the rest of the way.
Eleven first-half turnovers hurt the Lakers. The Clippers committed five. Overall, they made 17 miscues to 10 for the Clippers.
The Clippers blew the contest open in the third quarter. They closed the period with a 21-5 surge for an 83-54 cushion heading into the fourth quarter.
Rivers sat his starters in the final period.
NOTES: Injured Clippers G Jamal Crawford could return for Tuesday’s game against the Lakers. Crawford has missed the past 17 games with a right calf contusion. … Clippers coach Doc Rivers said it is “very important” for his team to gain home-court advantage in the first round of the playoffs, but he prefers all of his players to be healthy instead. … Although Rivers says he could care less about who wins the league’s MVP, Lakers coach Byron Scott believes Clippers PG Chris Paul should be considered. Scott calls Paul, who he coached for four-plus seasons in New Orleans, the best point guard in the NBA. … The Lakers led the overall series 144-58 entering the contest, but had dropped nine of the last 10 meetings. … The Clippers will serve as the home team when the two clubs meet again Tuesday.