January 10th, 2010 
Stephen Rhodes 
Posted in 
Something can be said about both the Miami Heat and Los Angeles Clippers, both of who played Sunday at the Staples Center. The Heat, even with their .500 record, have this tendency to be Jekyll-and-Hyde in their efforts while the Clippers have been surprisingly consistent as they had, prior to their game against the visiting Heat,won 5 straight at home.
Neither team shot very well (Los Angeles shot 42 percent while Miami shot only 39 percent) but were more aggressive, going to the free-throw line 33 times. Chris Kaman and Baron Davis’ double-doubles were more than enough to lead Los Angeles to a 94-84 win over Miami.
The Clippers came out with another exhibition of their recent home efficiency, taking a 41-22 lead in the second quarter with a 15-2 run. Los Angeles thrived with coach Mike Dunleavy’s plan to make Dwyane Wade’s teammates beat them; it apparently worked as Quentin Richardson, Udonis Haslem, Jermaine O’Neal, Dorell Wright and Rafer Alston were a combined 4 for 17 for nine points in the first half. Thc Clippers would go into halftime with a comfortable 56-41 lead.
Wade would drain a jumper with 8:30 left in the third quarter, putting the Heat within 60-47, but the Clippers would extend their lead to 79-58 on a pair of free throws by Craig Smith with no time left in the period. The game was pretty much decided with 8:41 remaining in the fourth quarter as Al Thornton’s jumper put the Clippers up for good at 86-64; Los Angeles would coast form that point on for the victory.
The Clippers’ balanced attack was led by Kaman with 22 points, 14 rebounds, an assist and 2 blocks while Eric Gordon chipped in 17 with a rebound and a steal; Davis notched a double-double with 11 points, 14 assists, a steal but turned the ball over 5 times. The Heat were led by Wade with 24 points, 2 rebounds, 3 assists and 3 steals while Michael Beasley pitched in 20 with 7 rebounds, 2 assists, 3 steals and a block; Mario Chalmers came off the bench to add 11 with 3 assists, 3 steals and a block.
Los Angeles (17-18) plays again on Tuesday when they travel to Memphis to take on the Grizzlies while Miami (18-17) makes the short trip to Salt Lake City to face the Utah Jazz Monday night.
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