Chris Paul‘s hesitation dribble is positively deadly. Even Jamal Crawford – one of the best ball-handlers the league has ever seen – has admitted that he’s never been able to master it. Solomon Hill found that out the hard way on Friday night. After losing Tim Frazier with a series of crossovers, Paul turned Hill into a snowman with the slightest little look-away before exploding to the rim for the easy layup.
Paul finished just shy of a triple double with 17 points, 13 assists, and eight rebounds as the Clippers beat the Pelicans 114-96. Blake Griffin led the way for Los Angeles with 27 points, 10 boards, and four assists, while Jamal Crawford chipped in 21 points on 9-of-15 shooting off the bench.
Anthony Davis – who struggled through a right shoulder injury in the first half – was the high scorer for the Pelicans in the losing effort as he put up 21 points, six rebounds, and four assists. E-Twaun Moore contributed 15 points on 7-of-12 from the field, and Terrance Jones added 14 points and nine rebounds for New Orleans.
The Clippers, who have now won two in a row and are 6-4 in their last 10 games, finished off their six-game road trip and will return home to host the Indiana Pacers on Sunday.
