Clippers edge Heat for their fourth straight win

LOS ANGELES - In their toughest test yet of this young NBA season, the Los Angeles Clippers measured themselves against the Miami Heat and liked how they stacked up.

Blake Griffin and Chris Paul had double-doubles, with Paul keying a third-quarter spurt that helped carry the Clippers to a 107-100 victory on Wednesday night. They have wins over Memphis, the Lakers, San Antonio and now the defending NBA champions in their first eight games.

“These wins are good, but we’re playing at home and we expect to win,” Clippers coach Vinny Del Negro said.

Griffin had 20 points and 14 rebounds and Paul had 16 points and 10 assists to lead five players in double figures in the Clippers’ fourth straight win. Jamal Crawford added 22 points off the bench.

“We can even be better,” Griffin said. “We can’t rest on a win like that.”

Obviously Griffin has been listening to Paul, who cautions an even-keeled approach.

“It’s early, very early,” Paul said. “We don’t want to get ahead of ourselves. Just keep playing the right way every night.”

LeBron James scored 30 points for the defending NBA champions, who lost their fifth in a row against the Clippers in Los Angeles.

AP