Five takeaways from the Clippers’ 102-98 win over the Denver Nuggets

Here are five takeaways from the Clippers’ 102-98 win over the Denver Nuggets on Monday.

1. The Clippers are streaking

The Clippers have won five games in a row, their second-biggest streak of the season. They won nine games in a row Nov. 24 through Dec. 10. This latest streak is coming at a good time for the team. They leave Tuesday for an eight-game trip.

“The team is really believing in themselves,” Clippers Coach Doc Rivers said.

2. Jamal Crawford has huge fourth quarter

Crawford had 11 points in the final 3 minutes and 10 seconds of the fourth quarter. He made a three-pointer to tie the game at 92, then a jumper and six free throws to help give the Clippers the win. Crawford finished with a game-high 23 points. The reigning sixth man of the year also had a big play that had nothing to do with scoring with 1 minute and 24 seconds left when Chris Paul overthrew the ball downcourt to him. Crawford caught the ball as he was flying out of bounds and threw it back into play behind his head to Matt Barnes, who made a layup to give the Clippers a two-point lead, 96-94.

“He was huge,” Blake Griffin said of Crawford.

3. DeAndre Jordan has big sequence at end of first half

Jordan had three blocked shots and a two-handed backward dunk in the final minute of the second quarter, helping the Clippers recover from a 16-point deficit to enter halftime with a three-point advantage, 50-47. Jordan finished with seven points, 12 rebounds and four blocked shots. His teammates have argued over the last few weeks that he should be voted into the All-Star game.

“Everything he does for us does not go unappreciated,” Griffin said of Jordan.

4. Glen ‘Big Baby’ Davis gives the Clippers a lot of energy

Davis had a pair of rebounds at the beginning of the fourth quarter that put the Clippers’ bench and the crowd on their feet. Davis finished with eight points and five rebounds, but his impact extended beyond the stat sheet.

“His energy can lift up the whole building.” Crawford said of Davis.

5. Matt Barnes is playing through an abdominal strain.

Barnes suffered an abdominal strain in the team’s 123-84 win over the Brooklyn Nets on Thursday. The injury apparently isn’t slowing him down too much. He finished with 18 points on seven for 11 shooting on Monday. According to the Clippers, he is not expected to miss any games because of the injury.