NBA Game Recap - Chicago at LA Clippers
Fri Mar 15, 2019 10:30 PM EDT

CHA
116
WAS
110
F
SAC
114
PHI
123
F
LAL
97
DET
111
F
MIL
113
MIA
98
F
PHO
102
HOU
108
F
POR
122
NO
110
F
NY
83
SA
109
F
CHI
121
LAC
128
F

Mar 15, 2019, 10:30 PM EDT

Final

1

2

3

4

T

Chicago

34

29

21

37

121

LA Clippers

29

28

45

26

128

Gallinari scores 27 as Clippers rally for victory over Bulls
Sat Mar 16, 2019 3:07 AM

LOS ANGELES (AP) The third quarter has been a problem for the Los Angeles Clippers since the All-Star break.

Doc Rivers loved how they handled that period this time, even though he was gone by the end of it.

The Clippers trailed the Chicago Bulls by six at halftime but had their highest-scoring output in a quarter this season as they rallied for a 128-121 victory on Friday night. Los Angeles scored 45 points in the third, when Rivers and Chicago coach Jim Boylen were ejected for arguing .

"I like the way we responded," Rivers said. "We didn't play well in the first half but we were terrific in the third. That starting group really set the tone which was great."

The Clippers trailed 63-57 at halftime, but took control in the third to go up 102-84 going into the fourth. Los Angeles shot 40.8 percent from the field in the first half but was 16 of 24 in the third quarter and 5 of 8 on 3-pointers. The Clippers also had six steals and forced seven turnovers.

It was only the fourth time in 11 games since the All-Star break that the Clippers have outscored an opponent in the third. They came into the game averaging only 26.9 points and allowing 31.6.

Danilo Gallinari scored 12 of his 27 points in the quarter and Landry Shamet made three 3s. Los Angeles opened the quarter with a 19-4 run and the lead reached 18 shortly before Rivers and Boylen were kicked out when they began arguing with 1:10 remaining after Boylen felt Clippers forward Montrezl Harrell was too aggressive on an offensive foul.

Referee Jason Phillips said in a pool report that both coaches were assessed a technical for arguing and received a second for continuing.

Harrell added 26 points and Lou Williams 18 for the Clippers, who have won six of their last seven games and nine of their last 12.

"The energy on defense wasn't there in the first half, so we picked it up on that end in the second half. That carry-over showed," Shamet said. "We were better offensively, shared the ball more, and got out on transition more. It started on the defensive end."

Zach LaVine led Chicago with 31 points and Robin Lopez added 22. The Bulls have dropped four straight.

"We just got a little sloppy and careless in the third quarter. We played 24-26 minutes of real good basketball and we have to play 48," Boylen said.

The first half was a see-saw affair as it was tied 10 times and there were 22 lead changes. Chicago led by as many as seven late in the first quarter as LaVine and Lopez each scored 10 points.

Los Angeles trailed 35-31 early in the second quarter before scoring eight straight points to take its largest lead of the half. Chicago rallied to take a six-point lead at halftime.

TIP-INS

Bulls: LaVine had his 46th game scoring 20 or more points this season. It is the fifth-highest single-season total by a Chicago player in the last 20 years.

Clippers: Shamet scored nine points and was 3 of 6 on 3-pointers. He continues to lead NBA rookies in 3s made (140) and 3-point percentage (42.2 percent).

UP NEXT

Bulls: Visit Sacramento on Sunday. The Kings have won the last three.

Clippers: Host the Brooklyn Nets on Sunday. The Clippers have won the last three.

---

Follow Joe Reedy at www.twitter.com/joereedy

---

More AP NBA: https://apnews.com/NBA and https://twitter.com/AP-Sports

Leaders

Chicago PTS +/- AST REB ST BLK
Z. LaVine 31 -6 7 7 0 0
R. Lopez 22 -7 3 8 1 3
LA Clippers PTS +/- AST REB ST BLK
D. Gallinari 27 15 2 7 1 1
M. Harrell 26 4 2 5 1 3

Team Comparison

CHI LAC
Points For 121 128
Field Goals 42/80-52% 44/99-44%
Three Pointers 11/21-52% 10/20-50%
Free Throws 26/33-79% 30/35-86%
Offensive Rebounds 8 15
Defensive Rebounds 36 28
Rebounds 54 51
Blocks 6 5
Steals 3 9
Turnovers 16 7
Points Scored Off Turnovers 8 23
Points in the Paint 50 56
Fast Break Points 10 12
Personal Fouls 26 30
Technical Fouls 2 2
Flagrant Fouls 0 0
Ejections 1 1

2018-19 Reg Season - LAC Leads Series 2-0

Date Result Away Pts Ldr Home Pts Ldr
Fri Jan 25 LAC 106 @ CHI 101 L. Williams 31 Z. LaVine 29
Fri Mar 15 CHI 121 @ LAC 128 Z. LaVine 31 D. Gallinari 27

Game Information

Stadium: Staples Center, Los Angeles, California
Attendance: 17,404
Game Time: 2:16