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Clippers stand up, instead of around, and defeat Orlando Magic, 103-101

Clippers forward Paul Pierce shoots as Orlando Magic forward Jason Smith, right, defends during the second half of a game on Dec. 5 at Staples Center.

Clippers forward Paul Pierce shoots as Orlando Magic forward Jason Smith, right, defends during the second half of a game on Dec. 5 at Staples Center.

(Mark J. Terrill / Associated Press)
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The Clippers stood around midway through the fourth quarter as Orlando’s Jason Smith scurried to grab a long rebound off a missed three-point attempt by Shabazz Napier.

Fans inside Staples Center booed the lack of effort by a team that was being not only outplayed but outhustled on its home court. Falling back to .500 appeared likely with the Clippers trailing by double figures.

That sequence made the blur that followed all the more dizzying, the Clippers racing past the Magic over the final 51/2 minutes for a 103-101 victory Saturday night at Staples Center.

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Jamal Crawford scored the last of his 32 points by making one of two free throws with 10 seconds left to give the Clippers a 102-100 lead and they held on after having erased a 12-point deficit with 9 minutes 16 seconds left in the game.

“We won the game with our defense, and our offense came off our defense,” said Clippers Coach Doc Rivers, who was most pleased with the zero portion of the 13-0 run his team assembled. “I thought it was a good lesson for us.”

Clippers forward Blake Griffin nearly logged a triple-double with 28 points, 13 rebounds and seven assists and Wesley Johnson scored 21 points off the bench, making six of 12 three-point shots.

Orlando’s Victor Oladipo missed a contested 22-foot jumper that would have tied the score, and the Clippers’ Austin Rivers grabbed the rebound and was fouled with 4.3 seconds left. Rivers made one of two free throws, increasing the Clippers’ lead to 103-100, and teammate Luc Mbah a Moute smartly fouled Orlando’s Elfrid Payton in the backcourt with two seconds left before he could get a shot off.

Payton made the first free throw before missing the second intentionally, but the ball went out of bounds off an Orlando player in the ensuing scrum. Paul Pierce’s inbounds pass with one second left was stolen but the Magic could not get off a shot before the buzzer.

DeAndre Jordan had 15 points and 14 rebounds for the Clippers (11-9), who won four of six games on their homestand and could shrug off giving up 15 offensive rebounds to the Magic.

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Crawford said the fans’ displeasure with the Clippers’ lackadaisical play helped spur them into motion.

“It felt like we were playing in the Garden for a minute, where the fans really get on you,” said Crawford, referring to Madison Square Garden. “Sometimes you need that kick in the butt. . . . I thought we really responded to the challenge.”

It helped that Crawford made 10 of 19 shots, including six of nine from three-point range, with many of them coming in rhythm

The Clippers were without their regular starting backcourt for a second consecutive game. Point guard Chris Paul sat out because of inflamed rib cartilage and shooting guard J.J. Redick was sidelined by the sprained right ankle he sustained in the opening moments of the Clippers’ game against the Indiana Pacers on Wednesday.

Doc Rivers said Redick tried to talk his way into the lineup and was hopeful he could play Monday when the team opens a five-game trip in Minnesota against the Timberwolves.

Rivers said he was not as optimistic that Paul would be ready by then. The Clippers’ 5,082-mile trip will also include games against Milwaukee, Chicago, Brooklyn and Detroit.

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The Clippers held a 53-50 halftime lead thanks in part to an unusual suspect. Johnson, who had all but disappeared since his short-lived stint as a starter, came off the bench to score 15 points in the first half.

There was another welcome sight for the Clippers as Crawford’s shot fell with some regularity, the shooting guard making four of eight shots, including a three-pointer on which he was fouled. He rose to make the free throw that completed the four-point play, something that had been noticeably missing from Crawford’s repertoire during an unusually prolonged shooting slump.

Griffin’s recent struggles with his midrange jumper continued in the first half, leading to some visible dismay late in the second quarter. Fortunately for him, Jordan was there to convert two of Griffin’s misses into easy baskets.

But most of the putbacks in the first half belonged to the Magic, which grabbed 10 offensive rebounds that led to 16 second-chance points.

Follow Ben Bolch on Twitter @latbbolch

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