Clippers’ takeaways from win over Charlotte
Clippers head coach Doc Rivers, left, makes a point to his son, Austin Rivers, during the first half against the Charlotte Hornets on Wednesday.
1. It hasn’t taken Austin Rivers long to get his groove back with the Clippers.
He had missed three games with a sprained right ankle, but in his second game back Wednesday night against the Hornets, Rivers scored a season-high 22 points.
Rivers was seven-for-11 from the field, four-for-six from three-point range. He also had three rebounds and two assists.
“Austin was amazing” Wednesday night, Chris Paul said. “You could sort of see it on his face in the locker room. He was so focused.”
2. As soon as Lance Stephenson checked into the game Wednesday night, he was booed by the fans inside Time Warner Cable Arena.
It was obvious that the fans remembered how horrible Stephenson was when he played for the Hornets last season. Of course he was hurt much of last season.
The Clippers acquired Stephenson in a trade last summer, but he hasn’t played all that well for them either.
Perhaps it didn’t help that Stephenson played power forward for the Clippers against the Hornets.
Still he didn’t score.
3. The Clippers went on a three-point shooting binge against the Hornets on Wednesday night.
Jamal Crawford of course was in on the action, making a three-pointer from the corner while being fouled in the third quarter. He made the free throw for a four-point play. He was two-for-four from three-point range.
J.J. Redick was five-for-six from three-point range, Paul Pierce three-for-seven, Rivers four-for-six and Pablo Prigioni one-for-one.
“We had the right people shooting,” Paul said.
4. The stats don’t tell the entire story of how Prigioni has been for the Clippers.
He did have five points, making both of his field goals and his only three-pointer, against the Hornets.
But he also had four assists and just one turnover.
Prigioni runs the offense, plays defense and keeps the Clippers settled when he’s on the court.
5. Paul actually got overlooked during the game because of Redick, Rivers and the rest of the Clippers’ reserve unit.
But Paul had a double-double with 19 points and 11 assists.
He didn’t shoot the ball particularly well, missing nine of his 13 shots and all three of his three-pointers.
But Paul was 11-for-12 from the free-throw line.
Twitter: @BA_Turner
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