LA Clippers stomp Suns to tune of 124-84

Twenty-seven games in the regular season remained for the L.A. Clippers when they took on the struggling Phoenix Suns on Monday night at Staples Center. The playoffs are less than two months away.

The Clippers would like to do some housekeeping before then - such as getting forward Blake Griffin and reserve guard Austin Rivers back and reacquainted with the team, getting newly acquired forward Jeff Green comfortable, and cutting down on Chris Paul’s minutes.

Coach Doc Rivers touched on those three things before his team went out and beat the Suns 124-84.

The Clippers (37-19) - now 20-6 without Griffin - led 36-17 after one quarter but the Suns opened the second on an 11-0 run before the Clippers restored order to lead by 17 (59-42) at halftime. The Clippers led 90-61 entering the fourth quarter.

J.J. Redick led the Clippers with 22 points and made 4 of 6 from 3-point range. DeAndre Jordan had 17 points and 11 rebounds, Paul scored 16 and doled out 14 assists, Green scored 18 off the bench. The starters did not play in the fourth, so Paul got some rest.

Phoenix, which has lost 12 in a row, is now 14-43. The Suns were led by Archie Goodwin, who scored 20 off the bench. Alex Len had 14 points and eight rebounds.

Paul was averaging 33.1 minutes before Monday. But he was averaging 38 this month. That jump coincided with Austin Rivers fracturing his left hand in the first game in February against the Miesota Timberwolves.

Doc Rivers was asked if this is putting some added wear-and-tear on Paul, who left Saturday’s loss to Golden State with 4:47 to play with a thigh bruise.

“I don’t think so,” he said. “Listen, he played a 40-whatever-minute night (at Boston on Feb. 10) and then we had a week off (for the All-Star break). The two games against San Antonio (on Thursday) and Golden State (on Saturday), I think everyone had wear and tear in those two games. So it’s the league.

“I think we’ve done pretty well with him overall. I think clearly his minutes have gone up a little bit; we don’t want that. But definitely, they’ve been harder minutes and we would like to try and fix that and we’re trying to.”

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That can happen when Austin Rivers gets back, probably early March.

Doc Rivers said he isn’t sure when Griffin will be back from his fractured right hand. He sustained the injury Jan. 23 when he punched team equipment staffer Matias Testi. The original time line was four to six weeks.

If Griffin doesn’t get back until mid-March, for example, he will have missed some 2 1/2 months of the season. He originally went out with a partially to left quad tendon and hasn’t played since Christmas night.

However, the Clippers coach doesn’t sound conceed when talking about how Griffin will fit back into the fold.

“Oh, I think it’ll be good,” Rivers said. “I don’t think it’ll be hard. Blake’s been around, he knows what we’re ruing. I do envision playing him at the 5 at times as well, which will be new for him.”

That would be in a small lineup.

“I think the fact that he sees now how we can play both ways (big and small), will help our team,” Rivers said.

As for Green, he made his debut in Saturday’s game against the Warriors after coming to the team from Memphis for Lance Stephenson and a future draft pick. Rivers hasn’t committed as to whether Green will end up in the starting lineup - though that appears a distinct possibility.

“Just playing the 3 and the 4, being a facilitator at times, giving us length,” he said, when asked about Green’s role, which for now is off the bench. “It allows us to play quirky lineups.”

Suns interim coach Earl Watson said he thinks bringing in Green, 29, was a solid move by the Clippers.

“I like Jeff Green,” said Watson, just 36. “I played with Jeff Green at OKC (in 2008-09) and I think he’s unique. The benefit I see with Jeff Green for that team is when they face the Warriors, he can match up with Draymond (Green).

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