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Clippers’ Reggie Jackson, John Wall a willing, winning combo

Having a superstar point guard, a 12-year veteran at that, come off the bench might raise eyebrows around the NBA. Maybe even in the locker room.

But John Wall and Reggie Jackson have learned to co-exist not only in the locker room but also on the floor. The two found themselves working in concert many times during the Clippers’ 119-97 blowout of the San Antonio Spurs on Saturday.

Case in point 1: During one possession in the first quarter, Wall whipped the ball behind his back while on the move and passed it to Nicolas Batum, who then dished it off to Jackson on the wing. Jackson found an open Norman Powell in the corner for a 3-pointer.

Case in point 2: Wall lobbed an alley-oop to Jackson, who caught it and scored, adding to the Clippers’ growing lead. The two connected 32 seconds earlier on a 3-pointer by Jackson.

Remarkably, there isn’t any animosity or egos involved. With Jackson having solidified his hold on the starting job, Wall, a five-time All-Star, is content to anchor the second unit.

The Clippers host the Utah Jazz at Crypto.com Arena on Monday night.

“I think y’all know well of how good Reggie is,” Wall said. “But for me, I’m a guy like Reggie when I’m in the game. Reggie like, ‘Yo, you push the pace, you do your job, I’m going to do my job.’

“He likes to spot and shoot threes, but at the same time, he can get into the paint. So, if I get tired at some point, he’ll take the lead of having the ball. But mainly when I’m in together, he wants me to be the point guard to run the team and put guys in position. And I find him a couple times for wide-open shots.”

The dynamic worked well for both in Saturday’s game. Wall finished with 15 assists, becoming the first Clippers player since Chris Paul to achieve that. Paul collected 15 assists Feb. 26, 2017.

Jackson finished with 20 points on 8-of-11 shooting, and four assists.

“It’s a dynamic with both of us not really caring who’s starting, who’s getting the most benefit,” Wall said. “We’re just trying to feed off each other, whatever the best role for this team is. Like last game, I didn’t play well, and Reggie was playing well. He closed the game out. Know what I mean?

“Sometimes it’s going to be different, sometimes it can be both of us. But you’re trying to figure out ways to do whatever we can to help this team win.”

Coach Tyronn Lue said he will continue the status quo — Jackson starting and Wall coming off the bench. It has worked for 17 games so far.

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“It’s actually been really good for us this year,” Lue said. “We haven’t done it a lot. We did it one moregame outside the San Antonio game in San Antonio where they both closed the game.

“John once again, with his pace and getting to the paint, sparked our offense. So, those two guys playing together, it’s something that I like to see, extra ballhandling on the floor, a guy that can make plays, run the pick and roll, and get to the basket. So, it’s been good for us, so we’ll see if we can get to that a little bit more.”

For Wall, the transition from star to role player for the first time in his career hasn’t been all that difficult. Although he wishes his minutes weren’t restricted (after not playing all last season), he said during the offseason that, at age 32, he wasn’t trying to be Batman, the savior who does it all. Being Robin, on a team well-stocked with talent, suits him fine.

“With this team, we got so many guys that you don’t have to hunt for shots or try to force it yourself,” Wall said. “For me, it’s just trying to find a rhythm. I think I only took like three shots in the first half, and it was all catch-and-shoot 3s. Other than that, it was just trying to find guys, get into the paint, push the pace.

“In the past, I used to have to do everything — assist, score, defend. Here, I don’t really have to do that. My job is to be myself.”

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