Clippers Defeat Boston

Los Angeles reserve Lamond Murray scored 24 points in 16 minutes as the Clippers sent the Boston Celtics to their 29th loss in 31 games, 117-102 Friday night.

The Celtics, depleted by injuries, had only four substitutes and they were outscored 63-5 by Los Angeles’ backups with all five of those points coming on free throws.

Once the Clippers stopped Antoine Walker, who led Boston with 36 points, the Celtics were finished.

He had 20 points at halftime and 34 with four minutes left in the third quarter when the Clippers led 76-74. But his only other points came on free throws in the last two minutes after Los Angeles had built 12-point leads.

Murray made the most of his limited time, hitting 11-of-15 shots and grabbing seven rebounds.

He first entered the game with 3:49 left in the second quarter and scored 12 points to help the Clippers to a 54-52 halftime lead. His next appearance was at the start of the fourth quarter, and he hit the first basket--25 seconds into the period--for an 86-84 lead.

A layup by Marty Conlan, who had 19 points, tied the game 86-86 before Bo Outlaw gave Los Angeles the lead for good 88-86 on a layup with 10:40 left.

The Clippers, who started the night with a three-game lead over Sacramento for the final Western Conference playoff spot, won for the second consecutive night after losing the first four games on their current seven-game trip.