Cavaliers beat the Clippers, 105-94, for 12th consecutive win

The Cleveland Cavaliers extended their winning streak to 12 with a 105-94 victory over the Clippers on Thursday evening in Cleveland.

The Clippers (33-17), who are in fifth place in the Western Conference, are now 2-3 on their eight-game road trip. The Cavaliers (31-20) improved from fourth to third in the Eastern Conference standings.

The Cavaliers held control the entire game. They had a 23-point lead, 65-42, at halftime after outshooting the Clippers from the field, 60% to 42.2%. The Cavaliers extended that lead to 32 points in the third quarter before the Clippers went on an 18-0 run in the fourth to make the game seem much closer.

Before Thursday’s game, the Clippers had only lost five games by double digits.

The Cavaliers got many of their points at the free-throw line, where they made 35 of their 44 attempts (79.5%). The Clippers had less than half as many free throws (20), of which they made 13 (65%). The Cavaliers also outrebounded the Clippers, 52-43.

Blake Griffin led the Clippers with 16 points, but it took him 17 shots to get there. Chris Paul had 10 points on four-for-14 shooting. DeAndre Jordan had 14 rebounds and eight points. Clippers starting shooting guard J.J. Redick did not play because of back spasms.

Kevin Love led the Cavaliers with 24 points and nine rebounds. LeBron James had 23 points and nine assists.

The Cavaliers swept their season series against the Clippers. When the teams played in Los Angeles on Jan. 16, the Cavaliers won, 126-121.

The Clippers now travel to Toronto to play the Raptors on Friday in the second leg of the back-to-back.