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Clippers hold off Kings after blowing lead
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SACRAMENTO (AP) — Tyrone Wallace intercepted a pass at midcourt and drove in for a dunk with 10.9 seconds left, moments after what looked like a costly turnover by Lou Williams, and the Los Angeles Clippers held off the Sacramento Kings 121-115 on Thursday night after blowing a 14-point lead in the fourth quarter.

The Clippers, who lost DeAndre Jordan to a sprained left ankle in the second quarter, won their third straight over the Kings this season and their 11th in a row at Sacramento.

Williams finished with 30 points and six assists, one night after scoring a career-high 50 against defending champion Golden State. Blake Griffin had 18 points, 12 rebounds and six assists in his return to the Clippers after missing two games with a concussion, and Montrezl Harrell scored a season-best 25 — including 16 in the second quarter when Los Angeles put up 43 points.

The Clippers led 106-92 early in the fourth before the Kings rallied to go ahead 113-112 on Bogdan Bogdanovich’s layup with 2:10 remaining.

Griffin followed with a 3-pointer and Williams later scored on a short jumper, but the Kings pulled to 117-115 on George Hill’s free throw with 24.9 seconds left.

Williams then committed a turnover at midcourt when he threw a pass to Sacramento’s Kosta Koufos, but Wallace saved his teammate when he stole the ball back and drove in for the dunk. Wesley Johnson added two free throws to seal the win.

Bogdanovich scored 22 points and Hill added 21, but he missed two free throws over the final 70 seconds.

Williams had 21 points in the first half, including nine in the final 1:33 of the second quarter after the Kings had trimmed a 14-point deficit to 60-58.

The Clippers also got a lift from Harrell, who made all seven of his shots in the period.

That was important after Jordan limped off the court with an ankle injury after scoring on a dunk with 5:15 left in the first half.

TIP-INS

Clippers: Harrell’s 16 points in the second quarter were two more than he had the entire game against Golden State.

Kings: Bogdanovich had four fouls in the first half. . Frank Mason was diagnosed with a partial tear of the plantar fascia in his right foot. He is expected to miss four weeks. Mason was injured Dec. 31 against Memphis.

UP NEXT

Clippers: Play at Houston on Saturday.

Kings: Play at Oklahoma City on Saturday.

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