Sixers fall to Clippers in overtime

Coming off Saturday's win over the Brooklyn Nets, the 76ers had a chance - a legitimate chance - to start an actual winning streak.

For the first 6 minutes, 36 seconds of Monday's game, they led the favored Los Angeles Clippers by 12 points. After weathering a Clippers run, the Sixers extended their lead to 19 points with 4:24 before intermission. And they had an eight-point cushion with 5:59 remaining in the game.

Once again, however, they managed to find a way to lose.

The Clippers ended the game on a 22-8 run to take a 98-92 overtime victory at the Wells Fargo Center.

J.J. Redick buried a three to knot the score at 88 with 10.5 seconds left. The game went to overtime after Jahlil Okafor misfired on his potential game-winner at the buzzer. The Clippers (35-17) scored the first eight points of overtime to put it away.

Redick led all scorers with 23 points. DeAndre Jordan added 12 points and a game-high 21 rebounds.

Sixers coach Brett Brown admired the Clippers' comeback.

"I think a good team all of a sudden put their hand up . . . and they started being an elite Western Conference team," he said. "You know, it caught us off guard, pushed us back on our heels and we ended up with Ish [Smith] in late-clock and pick-and-rolls.

"Maybe we settled for a few too many jump shots."

The Sixers (8-44) imploded after Smith's finger roll put them up, 84-76. They went on to shoot 1 for 10 with two turnovers in the final 5:58 of regulation. Their only basket came on Nerlens Noel's dunk with 3:31 remaining.

Then they went on shoot 1 for 8 in the overtime session.

It was a late four-quarter-and-overtime stretch Smith would love to forget.

The point guard missed his final five shots in regulation. He missed his first shot in overtime before making a three-foot, finger-roll layup. Then Smith missed his final three attempts.

Smith finished with 16 points, nine rebounds and five assists after missing Saturday's game with a sprained left ankle. However, he shot just 7 for 24 from the field.

"I just missed some shots," Smith said. "A lot of them were short and some of them hit back rim. That happens sometimes."

With the loss, the Sixers failed to win consecutive games for the first time since March 18 and 20 of last season. This marked their ninth straight setback to the Clippers.

Perhaps the most impressive thing is that Los Angeles improved to 19-4 this season in games without all-star Blake Griffin.

The power forward had been sidelined since Dec. 26 with a partially torn left quadriceps tendon. Griffin is expected to be out for another four weeks with a broken right hand he suffered when he punched the Clippers' assistant equipment manager, Matias Testi, last month in Toronto.

The Clippers went to small lineups that featured Paul Pierce or Wesley Johnson at power forward in Griffin's absence. On Monday, Johnson got the start so Pierce would not have to play on back-to-back nights. The 18th-year veteran logged 22 minutes Sunday in a victory over the Heat in Miami.

The lineup didn't provide positive results for most of Monday's contest. The Clippers actually looked tired and stunned by the Sixers' energy for most of the game.

The home squad took advantage in a game in which reserves Jerami Grant and Hollis Thompson played major roles.

Grant finished with 17 points on 6-for-7 shooting. The power forward also grabbed 11 rebounds. Thompson added 16 points while making 4 of 6 three-pointers.

"We've been losing a lot. But we've been in a few games where we've given it away," said Okafor, who finished with 14 points and nine rebounds. "Our wins are so far in between that it definitely [stinks]. But we competed really well.

"Even when we were up 19, we knew they would go on their run. They are a really good playoff team."

kpompey@phillynews.com

@PompeyOnSixers

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