LOS ANGELES -- Chris Paul held up the red T-shirt reading Cant Stop

LOS ANGELES -- Chris Paul held up the red T-shirt reading Cant Stop Los Angeles for a quick postgame photo. Nike Air Max 90 Damen Schwarz. He didnt put it on, and neither did his Clippers teammates. There was no celebrating on court or in the locker room after they beat the Lakers 109-95 on Sunday to clinch the Clippers first Pacific Division title in franchise history against a team that has long overshadowed them. "It just feels like something we were supposed to do," said Paul, who had 24 points and 12 assists. "It means were headed in the right direction. Were not satisfied. We understand this is something small compared to the big picture." Blake Griffin had 24 points and 12 rebounds as the playoff-bound Clippers swept the Lakers 4-0 for the first time since Donald Sterling bought the team in 1981. The 1974-75 team, known as the Buffalo Braves, had the franchises only other sweep of the Lakers. Fans chanted, "Sweep! Sweep!" in the closing seconds. Sterling accepted a congratulatory handshake from a fan after the game. "Its always good to sweep a team in your division, in the West," said Griffin, savoring the first division title of his young career. "Im proud of how we won the game a little bit differently. We kept up a nice tempo the whole game." Jamal Crawford had 20 points off the bench, DeAndre Jordan had 13 rebounds and Caron Butler scored 14 points for the Clippers, who knew that even if they lost, they could have clinched later Sunday if Utah won at Golden State. Utah defeated the Warriors 97-90 "We didnt want to do it that way," Paul said. "We wanted to clinch on our own terms." Clippers coach Vinny Del Negro said, "You have to earn it and today we did." As the division winner, the Clippers are guaranteed a top-four seed but will only open the playoffs with home-court advantage if they finish the season with a better record than the team in fifth, which currently is Memphis. "Hopefully, were playing well at the right time going to the playoffs," Crawford said. He chalked up winning the division title at home against the Lakers to "the basketball gods set it up that way." Dwight Howard scored 25 points, including 9 of 13 free throws, for the Lakers, who played without injured starters Steve Nash and Metta World Peace. Kobe Bryant added 25 points, 10 assists and seven rebounds, and Pau Gasol had 12 points and 13 rebounds as the Lakers three-game winning streak ended. Playing as the home team, the Clippers dealt their Staples Center co-tenants playoff hopes a serious blow. With the Jazzs win, they moved a half-game ahead of the ninth-place Lakers, who have five regular-season games left. The Jazz own the tiebreaker with the Lakers. "Weve got a bigger challenge than worrying about beating the Clippers in one game," Bryant said. "They obviously performed extremely well against us all four times. Our concern is playing well in order to get into the playoffs, get guys healthy, and go in there and see what we can do." The Lakers led by seven points to start the game before the Clippers took the lead for good. The Lakers owned a two-point edge in the paint, but Clippers had more second-chance and fast-break points. They also controlled the boards, 50-36. "They made some pretty tough shots, and they had players come in and make some big baskets under duress," Bryant said. "They kind of kept us at bay and they would get some turnovers and get out in transition." The game featured three of the NBAs top-five dunkers in Griffin, Howard and Jordan. They all got some alley-oops in, although the Clippers usual Lob City show didnt emerge in force until the fourth. Thats when Paul fed Griffin on a fast break late in the game and Griffin raced in for a one-handed jam. Paul stole the ball from Howard and sped up court before flipping it to Jordan for a monster slam. Griffin got the fans on their feet with under 2 minutes to go on a put-back slam that he followed with a 3-pointer to beat the shot clock. "Thats how were supposed to play," Jordan said. "As long as we bring that type of energy from jump ball to the end of the game, well be OK." The Lakers closed within single digits once in the fourth on a three-point play by Earl Clark. Bryant had 12 points in the fourth, including six free throws. The Clippers stretched a seven-point halftime lead to 14 points in the third on a 3-pointer by Butler after leading 56-49 at halftime. NOTES: The Clippers need one more win for the most at home in franchise history. They also had 30 in 1974-75. ... The Clippers have won the season series against the Lakers twice in franchise history, including this season. ... Clippers G Chauncey Billups missed his fifth straight game with a strained right groin. ... Nash missed his third in a row with a strained right hamstring. ... World Peace is ahead of schedule in recovering from left knee surgery and could return sooner than the six weeks he was expected to be out. ... Rihanna, Billy Crystal and Regina King attended the game. Air Max + 2013 Schuhe Schwarz. Lopez will miss the next two games because of a mild sprain of his right foot, and the Nets said he will be considered day to day after that. But after getting the results of an X-ray Thursday, general manager Billy King is confident his centre will be back on the floor shortly. Nike Air Max 2013 Schuhe.J. -- Lightweight Nate Diaz choked out Jim Miller in the second round to win the main event of a televised UFC card at the Izod Centre on Saturday night. http://www.maxairde.eu/. -- After facing R. Nike Air Max 97 Schuhe. The Canadian squad scored three power-play goals and added another while short handed en route to a 7-5 victory over Sweden on Tuesday. Canada improved to 2-0 at the tournament after opening with a 4-1 win over Switzerland on Monday. Air Max 97 Schuhe Damen.Y. -- John Tavares is trying to change the perception of the once-beleaguered New York Islanders.CINCINNATI, Ohio -- The Reds have lost top starter Johnny Cueto for at least a few weeks because of a strained muscle in his back, the third significant injury for the defending NL Central champions in the seasons opening weeks. Cueto went on the 15-day disabled list on Monday. The Reds called up right-handed reliever Justin Freeman from Triple-A Louisville, a boost to their often-used bullpen. The Reds are likely to call up left-hander Tony Cingrani to start in Cuetos spot on Thursday. Last year, the Reds made it through the regular season without one of their starters getting hurt. That streak ended when Cueto pulled an oblique muscle in the first inning of a playoff game against San Francisco, leaving their rotation in flux for the rest of a five-game series that the Giants won. Cueto strained a back muscle during the fifth inning of a 3-1 loss in Pittsburgh on Saturday, forcing manager Dusty Baker to go deep into his bullpen. The injury was initially thought to be in his triceps, but an examination found the problem in the right side of his back. Its unclear how long the Reds might be without their opening day starter and 19-game winner from last season. "Hopefully only three, maybe four starts," Baker said. "Once he does come back, he has to get his endurance up, so were rreally not putting a timetable on it. Nike Air Max 2013 Schuhe Herren Weiß Were going to miss him, but weve got to carry on." The Reds won 97 games last season -- second-most in the NL -- despite having the back end of their bullpen wiped out by injuries during spring training. They also lost Joey Votto for 48 games at midseason because of torn knee cartilage. The injuries are piling up quickly for Cincinnati. Left-handed set-up reliever Sean Marshall developed a sore shoulder late in spring training and went on the disabled list. Cleanup hitter Ryan Ludwick tore cartilage in his right shoulder while sliding into third base during the season opener and will miss at least the first half of the season. Now, Cueto is gone. "This is our ace," Baker said. "We already lost a couple of key guys in Marshall and Ludwick, so I hope we dont lose any more." The Reds transferred Ludwick to the 60-day disabled list on Monday to make room for Freeman on the 40-man roster. The 26-year-old reliever will make his major league debut the first time he gets into a game. Cingrani was limited to two innings in his start on Sunday, keeping him fresh so he could fill in for Cueto on Thursday. The 23-year-old pitcher has fanned 26 in 14 1-3 innings for Louisville. He will make his debut as well. ' ' '

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