LOS ANGELES (AFP) - Blake Griffin believes the Los Angeles Clippers will need to raise their game in the playoffs after scoring 36 points in a 115-104 defeat of the Los Angeles Lakers in the National Basketball Association (NBA) on Saturday (April 1).

Griffin led the scoring for the Clippers, who improved to 47-31 to move to within one game of the Utah Jazz in the race for the fourth seed slot in the Western Conference.

But Griffin - who topped 10,000 career points in the first quarter - was unhappy with an inconsistent display which saw the Lakers (21-55) reduce a 21-point lead to eight during the closing stages.

He later admitted that the Clippers' failure to kill off opponents was a concern.

"It's still something that needs to be worked out," he said. "I thought at times we came out to start the game the right way and then we took our foot off the gas.

"We just haven't put the lid on games very well. You can't win games in the playoffs playing inconsistently, so it is concerning."

Saturday's victory at Staples Centre also marked the 800th career win for Clippers coach Doc Rivers. But he was also unhappy with the patchy performance.

Backing up Griffin, Chris Paul weighed in with 29 points and 12 assists while J.J. Redick had 19 points.