LOS ANGELES -- It was a serious test for the revitalized Milwaukee Bucks.

And they gave the Los Angeles Clippers a battle for three-plus quarters before dropping a 117-101 decision Wednesday night at the Staples Center.

Matt Barnes and Jamal Crawford came off the bench to spark the Clippers. Crawford finished with a team-leading 25 points, and Barnes was deadly from three-point range, hitting 6 of 11 attempts on the way to 20 points.

Power forward Blake Griffin contributed a triple-double with 23 points, 11 rebounds and 11 assists before leaving with 3 minutes 55 seconds remaining and the Clippers leading by 16 points.

Milwaukee (30-29) had a four-game winning streak snapped as it opened a three-game West Coast trip.

Monta Ellis led the Bucks with 22 points, and Ersan Ilyasova added 20. Brandon Jennings contributed 18 points and 11 assists as he reached double figures in assists for the third straight game.

A three-pointer by Barnes and a huge dunk by Griffin pushed the Clippers' lead to 108-91 with 6:15 remaining and forced a timeout from Bucks coach Jim Boylan.

The Bucks pulled within five points early in the fourth period, but the Clippers went on a 15-3 run to take control.

Chris Paul added 14 points and nine assists in just 32 minutes for the Clippers (44-19).

Los Angeles shot 54 percent from the field (47 of 87) and outrebounded the Bucks, 42-34.

The Clippers took a 16-9 lead at the outset as they scored eight fast-break points in that stretch.

Griffin pushed the ball from one end to the other and converted a three-point play after being fouled by Jennings. DeAndre Jordan also had two dunks, and Griffin added a tip-in after a Jordan miss.

But the Bucks fought back and took their first lead on a three-pointer by Mike Dunleavy, putting Milwaukee ahead, 26-25, with 2:48 left in the first quarter.

Crawford scored 11 points in his first 11 minutes on the floor to keep the Clippers in front early in the second quarter.

Back-to-back three-pointers by Barnes gave the Clippers a 50-43 lead and started an 11-0 run.

Los Angeles scored five points on one possession after a clear-path foul was called on Larry Sanders on a long feed to Griffin. The Clippers power forward made both free throws and Barnes drilled another three off an assist from Paul.

Griffin powered a one-handed rebound dunk off a Barnes miss moments later, giving the Clippers a 57-45 lead with 3:14 left in the half.

But three-pointers by Dunleavy and Jennings and a three-point play by Ellis helped the Bucks cut their deficit. They were within five points before Crawford sank a three-pointer from the left corner with 1.3 seconds left to give the Clippers a 66-58 halftime lead.

Dunleavy played 16 minutes in the first half.

Griffin went to work early in the third quarter, using his mobility as he scored three baskets in the first 5 minutes of the period.

Ilyasova hit a pair of threes, and the Bucks stayed close. A jumper by Ellis brought the Bucks within 80-75 with 4:39 left in the quarter.

A J.J. Redick three-pointer helped the Bucks get within three points before Paul scored the final four points of the quarter, the last two on free throws with five-tenths of a second left. The Clippers took an 89-82 lead into the final quarter.

Barnes hit another three from the corner, his fifth of the game, and Eric Bledsoe drove for a basket as Los Angeles boosted its margin to 100-88 with 8:40 remaining.

(c)2013 Milwaukee Journal Sentinel

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