Clippers erase 21-point deficit to beat Pelicans

LOS ANGELES – Agence France-Presse

Blake Griffin sank a clutch three-pointer as the Los Angeles Clippers completed the team’s greatest road comeback since 2004 with a 112-103 win over the New Orleans Pelicans on Jan. 28.

Griffin drained his three-pointer with 43 seconds remaining en route to a 27-point performance against the Pelicans who were playing their first game since a leg injury ended the season of all-star center DeMarcus Cousins.

Griffin also had 12 assists for the Clippers who rallied from a 21-point first half deficit and ended the Pelicans four-game win streak.

Lou Williams tallied 22 points, DeAndre Jordan had 12 points and 19 rebounds, and Tyrone Wallace scored 19 points in the win.

Anthony Davis had 25 points and 17 rebounds for the Pelicans, who missed star forward Cousins after he tore his Achilles tendon in the final minute of the win on Jan. 26 win over Houston. Cousins was averaging 25.2 points and 12.9 rebounds when he went down.

The Pelicans suffered just their second loss in their last nine contests.

Elsewhere, Giannis Antetokounmpo scored 27 points and the Milwaukee Bucks beat the Chicago Bulls 110-96.

The all-star forward added nine rebounds and eight assists to help the Bucks improve to 3-0 since interim coach Joe Prunty replaced the fired Jason Kidd.

In Toronto, Fred VanVleet came off the bench to score a career-high 25 points as the Toronto Raptors manhandled the visiting Los Angeles Lakers 123-111 at the Air Canada Centre arena.