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Clippers use ball movement to dial up long distance in win over Atlanta

Clippers guard Austin Rivers shoots a three-pointer over Hawks guard Dennis Schroeder during the fourth quarter in Atlanta on Wednesday. (Daniel Shirey / Associated Press)
(Daniel Shirey / Associated Press)
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Lou Williams made the Clippers’ first three-pointer of the game off a pass from center DeAndre Jordan. Austin Rivers made the next three-pointer later in the first quarter off a pass from Williams. Wesley Johnson added another three-pointer later in the quarter off a pass from Rivers.

That was the theme for the Clippers during their 116-103 victory over the Atlanta Hawks on Wednesday night — pass the ball to the open man, move bodies to open spaces and knock down three-pointers in the process.

As a team, the Clippers shot 50% on 30 attempts from three-point range.

“We played with a lot of energy,” Johnson said. “I think that was the main thing. Really, we were just moving the ball.”

The Clippers had 30 assists on 44 field goals.

It was clear they were willing to share the basketball.

“We got good shots,” Rivers said. “Guys had the open looks. Look at the shots Wes got tonight. He shot wide-open looks. He’s a great shooter. Like, when we move the ball like that and you get good looking shots, it leads to better percentages.”

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Johnson was on target with his three-point launches.

He made his first six attempts, missing his seventh and final three-pointer in the fourth quarter.

“It was just how the plays were drawn up,” Johnson said. “I was just trying to get the spacing down right. Anybody can be in those spots, in the corner. It’s just how the spacing is drawn up. I’m there.”

The Clippers made all those bombs under the weight of knowing they had lost Patrick Beverly for the season.

He underwent an arthroscopic lateral meniscus repair and a microfracture procedure on his right knee on Wednesday.

“It’s tough. You hate to lose anybody, especially like that,” Johnson said. “Thoughts and prayers go out to him. I sent him a text earlier. I think everybody will. I hate to see him go down, but we have to have the next man step up. I know he was going to be encouraging for whoever steps up. Pat was in good spirits so we’re going to try to keep him uplifted.”

Hard-playing Dekker

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The Clippers can always count on Sam Dekker to play his hardest in limited minutes. That was the case again against the Hawks.

Dekker played just 11 minutes 1 second, but he contributed six points, two steals and one rebound.

“One thing I can control is playing hard and my activity level,” Dekker said. “In whatever minutes I get, whether it’s 20 minutes or four minutes, I’m going to play as hard as I can. I’m getting a lot more comfortable with our system, and that helps too. I’ve just got to keep the activity and good things will happen.”

broderick.turner@latimes.com

Twitter: @BA_Turner

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