Los Angeles Clippers lead all the way against Hornets

Moments after the Los Angeles Clippers had beaten the Charlotte Hornets 122-117 at Time Warner Cable Arena on Wednesday, Hornets coach Steve Clifford offered a brutally direct appraisal of his team.

Clifford was upset, all right, mostly about a Hornets’ defensive effort that allowed the Clippers to never trail while shooting 52.1 percent from the field and 50 percent (15 of 30) from 3-point range. All of that came on a night when the Hornets already had bad news about center Al Jefferson’s knee (he’ll miss six weeks after surgery Thursday).

“If our expectations of ourselves are going to be that low -- that we’re not going to meet the challenge of having a chance to play a (Chris) Paul, (J.J.) Redick, (DeAndre) Jordan -- we’re never going to be the team we need to be,” said Clifford. “The first thing when we met during the season, I told them I thought we could be very good. But everybody has to confront facts and realize that they have to have career years. They all have to do things they’ve never done before. That was good early in the year. We’re not sustaining that. It starts with an approach, an intensity and demanding of yourself.”

The Clippers (20-13) got off to a quick start, with veteran guard Paul Pierce hitting two consecutive 3-pointers. Los Angeles led by as many as 12 and, although the Hornets (17-14) cut the lead to one point early in the fourth quarter, they never relinquished the lead. Clifford, obviously, didn’t think the Hornets had it in them to take control when the chance was there.

“If everytime Paul Pierce get loose, you say, ‘Jeez, he’s really good,’ you’re not going to win,” said Clifford. “They’re good players and you’ve got to be able to make those plays. When that happens, then we’ll start to play better.”

Three who mattered

Chris Paul: Clippers point guard scored 19 points and added 11 assists. Controlled the game when the Clippers needed him to.

J.J. Redick: Former Duke star made 5-of-6 3-pointers on his way to 26 points. Made all five of his free throws.

Kemba Walker: Two days after scoring 38 againt the Lakers, Hornets guard had 29. Added seven assists.

Observations

▪ The Clippers never led by more than 12 points, but they could also never fully put the Hornets away. Charlotte cut the lead to two points in the third quarter and one in the fourth, but couldn’t get over the hump.

▪  Rookie Frank Kaminsky saved the Hornets in the first half after they fell behind by 12 points. Kaminsky scored 11 points in 12 minutes, forcing the action by going to the basket effectively and making all of his free throws.

▪  Clippers guard Austin Rivers came off the bench to score 13 in the first half, including 3-of-5 3-pointers. Rivers, who played one season at Duke, recently missed three games with a sprained ankle. He finished with 22.

Worth mentioning

▪ Charlotte played without Jefferson, guard Jeremy Lin (ankle) and center Spencer Hawes (lower back). Nic Batum (19 points, eight rebounds, six assists) played with a sore toe. The Clippers were without forward Blake Griffin (quad).

▪  Former Hornet Lance Stephenson got plenty of boos when he entered the game in the second quarter (he played just three minutes in the first half). Stephenson fouled Charlotte’s Tyler Hansbrough seconds after he entered the game.

▪  The Hornets’ new D League team in Greensboro announced earlier this week that its nickname will be the Swarm.

They said it

“We started the game with no defensive mentality. We couldn’t guard them. The tone was set.” -- Clifford.

“Lack of communication. We just have to have the right mindset and talk to each other so we can get stops.” -- Guard Jeremy Lamb, on the Hornets’ defensive problems.

“(The Hornets) are really shorthanded and we don’t have Blake. These are the games you go into and you know anybody can win. We won, so I am happy.” -- Clippers coach Doc Rivers.

Report card

C OFFENSE: Kept the Hornets in the game, but when a big shot needed to be made, it wasn’t there.

F DEFENSE: Anytime the opposition shoots better than 50 percent and -- especially -- 50 percent from 3-point range, it’s a bad, bad night.

C- COACHING: For whatever reason, the Hornets weren’t ready to play. Things were made tougher by injuries to key players.

This story was originally published December 30, 2015 at 9:49 PM with the headline "Los Angeles Clippers lead all the way against Hornets."