The Blake Griffin Traveling Dunk Show arrives at the Prudential Center Friday, two days after the franchise's biggest win of the year, a 108-103 beating of Boston in Beantown. The Celtics actually controlled Griffin, but couldn't handle Mo Williams (28 points), DeAndre Jordan (a career high 21 points and 9 rebounds) or Newark native Randy Foye (12 assists.) It was the Clippers' 25th win in an up-and-down season that has seen Griffin emerge as one of the game's stars.
For the Nets, it will be another test without Deron Williams, who's expected back Saturday (presumably with cigars) after the birth of his son, Desmond. After failing to win three straight for two years, the Nets will now go for their fourth in a row, which they accomplished last back in February 2009.
Expect the Nets to go early and often to Brook Lopez, who's averaging 26.8 points and 8.6 rebounds over the last five while shooting 56.7%. And in three of those games, he's had double-doubles. Similarly, Kris Humphries, who'll be guarding Griffin, is averaging 15.6 and 15. If the Hump can keep up his recent numbers, he has a good shot of averaging a double-double for the season. He's now at 9.4 and 9.7.
The game will be broadcast on 970 AM, The Apple. The game is a sellout.
- New Jersey Nets Game Notes - New Jersey Nets
- Los Angeles Clippers Game Notes - Los Angeles Clippers
- Getting Inside - New Jersey Nets. - Sports Xchange
- Getting Inside - Golden State Warriors - Sports Xchange
- Clippers-Nets Preview - Stats LLC
- Nets' Kris Humphries is quiety having a strong season - Colin Stephenson - Star-Ledger
- Nets' improvement sealed with a Kris - Fred Kerber - New York Post
- Kris Humphries not joking - Al Iannazzone - The Record
- Griffin helps Clippers dunk doubts - Stefan Bondy - New York Daily News
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Clippers notes: Mo Williams gives Clippers a confidence boost - Lisa Dillman - Los Angeles Times