LA Clippers clinch playoff berth win over Nuggets

Easter Sunday was a good day for the L.A. Clippers. Power forward Blake Griffin. He was giving the green light and is expected to retu next Sunday after serving his four-game suspension. The Clippers also got some revenge on the Denver Nuggets, defeating them 105-90 at Staples Center.

Denver upset the Clippers the last time the teams played, taking a six-point victory Feb. 24 at Staples Center.

The victory means the Clippers (45-27) have clinched a Weste Conference playoff berth.

The Clippers bolted to a 14-point, first-quarter lead, but led just 31-26 after the first and by just 52-48 at halftime. They got it going in the third quarter and took a lead of 77-60 into the fourth.

DeAndre Jordan led the Clippers with 16 points, 16 rebounds and six blocks. Chris Paul and Jamal Crawford scored 14 apiece with Paul doling out nine assists, Jeff Green and Wes Johnson each scored 13 and J.J. Redick had 12 points.

Jusuf Nurkic led Denver (31-43) with 19 points and DJ Augustin had 18, all but two in the first half.

The Nuggets were without leading scorer Danilo Gallinari (ankle sprain) and leading rebounder Keeth Faried (lower back soreness).

Griffin has been recovering from a partially to left quad tendon and fractured right hand sustained Jan. 23 in Toronto when he punched a team equipment staffer, thus the suspension.

He’s eligible to play next Sunday when the Clippers host the Washington Wizards at Staples Center.

The Clippers next play host to the Boston Celtics on Monday night.