LOS ANGELES — Chris Paul had 27 points and 12 rebounds and Blake Griffin scored six points in his return from a three-month absence to help the Los Angeles Clippers beat the Washington Wizards, 114-109, on Sunday.
Griffin made two of seven shots and contributed five rebounds and two assists while playing 24 minutes after missing 45 games because of quadriceps and hand injuries. The team went 30-15 and clinched a playoff spot during his absence.
The Clippers (48-28) were clearly glad to have their star power forward back, gleefully pouncing on him during introductions. Griffin’s minutes are expected to be managed carefully while he works to regain his conditioning ahead of the playoffs.
Marcin Gortat scored 21 points and Markieff Morris added 18 points for the Wizards (37-40), who never led in losing for the fifth time in seven games. John Wall scored 15 points and Bradley Beal had eight points while missing 14 of 16 shots.
Griffin hadn’t played since Christmas Day, when he tore his left quadriceps tendon. He was averaging 23.2 points, 8.7 rebounds and 5.0 assists at the time. He broke his right shooting hand in January after punching the team’s assistant equipment manager and recently served a four-game suspension as punishment.
J.J. Redick added 18 points and DeAndre Jordan had 12 points and 12 rebounds for the Clippers.
Down 12 points with 3:40 left in the fourth quarter, Wall made two 3-pointers and Otto Porter Jr. added another, whittling the Wizards’ deficit to four points.
Jordan, who earlier missed four consecutive free throws, excited the crowd by catching a pass from Jamal Crawford and jamming it down one-handed to keep Los Angeles ahead, 110-104. Wall hit another 3-pointer that left Washington trailing by three.
Paul’s 3-pointer from the top of the key beat the shot clock and extended the Clippers’ lead to 113-107. Wall turned the ball over into the hands of Paul, who got fouled and made one of two free throws to preserve the win.
Los Angeles led by 17 points in the first half. Griffin’s first basket in more than three months was on a fast break alley-oop pass from Paul, which Griffin dunked two-handed with 6:51 left in the first quarter. Griffin had two assists before that, with the Clippers racing to an 18-6 lead at the start.
Jordan had two showcase dunks in the second quarter, both off alley-oop passes, one from Paul and the other from Crawford.
The Wizards threatened with a big run to open the third quarter that left them trailing, 60-59. Gortat and Morris combined to score eight of Washington’s points.
The Clippers responded with a 13-2 run, including eight in a row that restored their lead to 73-61. Jordan had four points and Redick hit a 3-pointer off Paul’s bounce pass. Griffin made two free throws after Morris’ foul sent him crashing into the courtside photographers.
Wall extended his streak to 13 consecutive games with 10 or more assists, giving him the second-longest streak this season.
Former Wizards guard Paul Pierce sat out the game with a bruised right knee and bruised right ankle.
Please read our comment policy before commenting.