Clippers Are Cold as the Heat Wins

Kevin Edwards scored 22 points, and fellow rookie Grant Long added 20 Friday night as Miami held the Clippers to 29 points in the first half en route to a 111-91 victory, the Clippers’ eighth straight loss, and second in a row to the Heat.

The Clippers managed only 12 points in the second quarter and Miami led, 55-29, at halftime. The Clippers’ point totals for the second quarter and first half were season lows for them and season bests for Miami’s defense.

The Clippers shot 24.4% in the first half.

Edwards, averaging 22.9 points in the last seven games, scored eight points during an 18-1 run that gave Miami a 23-9 lead with 4:40 left in the first quarter. Repeated Clipper turnovers allowed the Heat to score 10 points in 66 seconds during the spurt.

The Clippers scored 31 points in each of the last two periods, exceeding their first-half output both times, but never cut the margin under 19 points.

The expansion Heat has won three of its last four home games and four of 11 overall since the midpoint of its schedule, matching its win total over the first half of the season.

Miami’s 8-44 record is still the National Basketball Assn.’s worst. The Clippers, at 11-44, are second-worst, but they have lost 27 of their last 28, including 17 straight on the road.

“I like the way we’ve been playing,” Heat Coach Ron Rothstein said. “It’s really encouraging. We can see progress, and now the progress is turning into victories.

“Our rookies played an important role earlier, but they’re really stepping forward now. They’re getting more confident.”

Benoit Benjamin scored 19 points to lead the Clippers, who conclude their trip Sunday against the Detroit Pistons.

It was the second straight time that Long and Edwards were the top two scorers in a Heat victory. Long had 30 points and Edwards 21 in Miami’s 124-115 win over Atlanta on Sunday.

Clippers coach Don Casey said Miami is building the right way.

“These expansion teams will take the guys that seem to come from nowhere and in two or three years down the road will be in good shape.”