Clippers routed by Cavs; Branden Dawson arrested

The Clippers struggled to defeat the New York Knicks on Friday, and the Knicks are 13th in the Easte Conference and almost certainly won’t make the playoffs. One had to wonder, then, how the Clippers would fare Sunday against the Cleveland Cavaliers, who lead the East and have the NBA’s third best record.

The Clippers led by 10 points after five minutes of play, but it was all Cavaliers after that as they defeated the Clippers 114-90 at Staples center.

J.J. Redick led the Clippers (42-23) with 19 points, Chris Paul scored 17 and had 10 assists and DeAndre Jordan had 11 points and 11 rebounds.

The Clippers led 14-4, but scored only five more points over the final seven minutes of the first quarter to trail 21-19. They were behind 58-41 at halftime, 91-68 after three quarters and by 26 points (103-77) with 6:57 to play before garbage time took hold.

LeBron James led the Cavaliers (47-18) with 27 points, six rebounds and five assists, JR Smith and Kyrie Irving each scored 17, Chaing Frye scored 15 and Kevin Love had 12 points and nine rebounds.

Meanwhile, TMZ reported before the game started that Clippers’ rookie forward Branden Dawson was arrested for felony domestic violence early Sunday moing in Los Angeles.

Dawson, a second-round draft pick out of Michigan State, had just completed his fourth Development League assignment and had been recalled by the Clippers on Saturday.