Clippers send Knicks to 50th loss with 128-107 victory
LOS ANGELES (AP) — Landry Shamet's mind was blank. His teammates were feeding him the ball and setting screens and the rookie took full advantage in his ninth game with the Clippers.
He scored all of his 21 points on 3-pointers, Danilo Gallinari added 20 and Los Angeles routed the Knicks 128-107 on Sunday, sending New York to its 50th loss of the season.
"It was just free-flowing and the ball was going in," Shamet said. "They were telling me constantly to keep shooting."
Shamet and Gallinari combined for 27 of the Clippers' 38 points in the first quarter when they raced to a 38-20 lead.
"It's tough to play defense against shooters and two or three at the same time is tough," Gallinari said.
Shamet scored 18 of his 21 points in the opening 12 minutes. Shamet, acquired from Philadelphia last month in the Tobias Harris trade, tied the franchise record for threes in a quarter (six) and a half (seven).
His seven 3-pointers set a franchise rookie record for 3s in a single game.
"We all know our roles since the trade," Shamet said. "I feel like we all play very well together and take ownership."
Damyean Dotson scored 17 points, Noah Vonleh added 17 points and 12 rebounds, and Mitchell Robinson had 16 points and 13 rebounds for the Knicks, the worst team in the Eastern Conference at 13-50. Only Phoenix, the West's worst team, has lost more games (51) this season.
"We've got a lot of young guys who are still learning the game, who are still learning how to compete," injured center DeAndre Jordan said. "We have a great coach in Fiz who's teaching them the right things and how to work in this league. It's a great culture."
The Clippers led 82-46 at halftime, the second-most points in the first half in franchise history and the most in any half since a club-record 87 on April 14, 1987, according to Elias Sports Bureau.
"It's nice to be able to take care of your business early and spread minutes around," Shamet said. "That's valuable, especially in a back-to-back."
The Clippers tied a franchise record with 14 3-pointers in the half and their nine 3s in the first quarter set a franchise record for the most in any quarter.
"When he (Shamet) gets it going they see it and they made sure he got the ball," Clippers coach Doc Rivers said.
The Clippers' 38-point lead in the second quarter was their largest of the game.
"We were in mud," Knicks coach David Fizdale said. "No matter who I put out there they were just heavy-legged and just really out of it mentally. It was a total lack of competitive preparation."
With most of the Clippers' starters resting in the fourth, Montrezl Harrell scored 10 of his 18 points. Lou Williams added 18 points. Ivica Zubac had 11 rebounds and Patrick Beverley added 10 rebounds.
The Knicks outscored the Clippers 61-46 in the second half when they were in catch-up mode.
"I wanted to see what kind of spirit we'd come out with and if we could just set the goal to win the second half," Fizdale said. "We did that."
TIP-INS
Knicks: Jordan (sprained left ankle) missed his fourth straight game. He's day-to-day. Jordan is averaging 11.8 points and 12.0 rebounds in eight games with New York since being traded by Dallas on Jan. 31. Jordan, who spent 10 years with the Clippers, watched from the bench and smiled when Clipper Darrell shouted, "Hey, I paid my money and I want to see DeAndre Jordan!"
Clippers: They scored 38 points in the first quarter, just off their season high of 42 for a quarter against Boston on Feb. 9. ... They improved to 10-1 vs the Knicks dating to the start of the 2013-14 season. ... LA has won 17 of its last 19 matchups with New York at Staples Center, its best record against any opponent at home over the last 20 years.
COMING BACK
Jordan's biggest adjustment to playing in New York City?
"I had to buy a coat," he said. "Other than that, it's OK."
Even though he didn't play, Jordan said it was "awesome" being back at Staples Center for the first time against the Clippers since his initial trade to Dallas.
"I had a lot of great times here," he said. "I grew up here."
UP NEXT
Knicks: At Sacramento on Monday in the second game of a back-to-back.
Clippers: Play their Staples Center co-tenant the Lakers as the visiting team on Monday in their second back-to-back in a week.
