Batum’s season-high 32 points carries Clippers past Pacers / News - Basketnews.com

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Nicolas Batum scored 32 points as the host Los Angeles Clippers (22-23) held off the Indiana Pacers (15-29) 139-133 (40-27, 28-32, 36-31, 35-43) on Monday.

Player of the Game EFF 36 Nicolas Batum Points 32 Accuracy 11-16 Rebounds 5 Assists 3

In an impressive long-range shooting performance, Batum shot 7 of 10 from 3-point range and the Clippers hit 18 of 36 from beyond the arc as a team.

The Clippers came into Monday's contest -- their last at home before embarking on a season-long eight-game road swing -- having failed to score 100 points in their last three outings.

Los Angeles eclipsed the 100-point mark before the end of the third quarter, and led by as much as 19 points in game it led wire-to-wire.

All five Clippers starters scored in double-figures, led by Batum's season-high. Marcus Morris Sr. scored 21 points on 8 of 13 shooting from the floor and grabbed a team-high eight rebounds. Reggie Jackson added 26 points with five rebounds, three assists and three steals, and Amir Coffey finished with 16 points and seven assists.

Ivica Zubac rounded out Los Angeles' starting five with 10 points on 3-of-3 shooting from the field. Collectively, the Clippers connected on 45 of 82 shots from the floor in their highest-scoring game of the season.

Indiana climbed back from the deep hole it dug early, cutting the deficit to three points in the final minute thanks to the scoring efforts of Caris LeVert and Chris Duarte.

LeVert led the Pacers with 26 points and Duarte scored 24 points off the bench. Goga Bitadze added another 17 points on 7-of-9 shooting off the bench, and fellow reserve Oshae Brissett scored 13 points.

Domantas Sabonis recorded a double-double of 19 points and 11 rebounds along with seven assists, and Justin Holiday scored 18 points.

Despite reaching its highest point total in regulation this season -- and second-most points since posting 134 in an overtime loss at Washington on Oct. 22 -- Indiana dropped its fourth straight and suffered its 10th loss in its last 11 games.

Monday marked the first outing in a five-game, Western Conference road swing for the Pacers.

LA Clippers: Nicolas Batum 32 (5 REB), Reggie Jackson 26 (5 REB), Marcus Morris 21 (8 REB), Amir Coffey 16 (7 AST), Ivica Zubac 10 (5 REB)

Indiana Pacers: Caris LeVert 26 (9 REB), Chris Duarte 24 (7 REB), Domantas Sabonis 19 (11 REB), Goga Bitadze 17 (8 REB), Justin Holiday 18, Oshae Brissett 13, Duane Washington 10

--Field Level Media

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