OOPS! LOST IT: Los Angeles Clippers forward Lamar Odom (7) battles Indiana Pacers forward Paul George (L) and Pacers centre Jeff Pendergraph for a loose basketball during the second half of their NBA basketball game in Indianapolis, Indiana. (Reuters)
DPA/Los Angeles
Chris Paul stepped up to rescue the Los Angeles Clippers from a late-game meltdown.
Paul poured in eight of his 29 points in the final two and half minutes and the visiting Clippers held off the short-handed Indiana Pacers 99-91 on Thursday night after nearly blowing a 17-point fourth-quarter lead.
“Those guys are never out of a game,” said Paul, who also handed out assists in the Clippers’ fourth straight road win. “They always play hard, they have a lot of shooters and we relaxed when we shouldn’t have.”
Jamal Crawford netted 23 points, while Blake Griffin had 18 and 14 rebounds for the Pacific Division leading Clippers (42-18), who won for the seventh time in the last eight games, with a big finish from their leader. “It’s fun to watch Chris take over a close game like he did tonight,” Crawford said. “We’re lucky to have him.”
The Clippers opened up a 91-74 cushion with five minutes 38 seconds left to play but inexplicably let up.
The Pacers, behind eight points, including a pair of triples from Paul George went on a 13-0 run to draw within four with 2 minutes 45 seconds remaining.
The most valuable player of the recent NBA All-Star game then took control and scored the Clippers’ final eight points, connecting on a jumper, a nifty driving layup and four free throws to slam the door shut on the Pacers’ five-game winning streak.
“We tried to open up the court for him and he’s either going to hit shots or make the right play,” Clippers coach Vinny Del Negro said of Paul. “That’s what star players do.”
David West scored 22, George had 20 for the Central
Division-leading Pacers (36-22), who without suspended centre Roy Hibbert, dropped to 24-6 at home.
“Roy Hibbert make a big difference in our team,” Pacers coach Frank Vogel said. “We have the number one defence in the league and he’s a big part of it.” Vogel, however, gave credit to Paul, saying “He’s the best point guard in the universe, right now.”
Elsewhere: LA Lakers 116, Minnesota Timberwolves 94:
Kobe Bryant scored 33 points, including four of his team’s 16 triples and the Lakers beat the visiting Timberwolves for the 21st consecutive time, the NBA’s longest current win streak for one team over another. Antawn Jamison netted 17 while Jodie Meeks added 16 for the Lakers (29-30), who pulled two games of idle Houston for the eighth and final Western Conference playoff spot following their 12th win in the last 17 games.
J J Barea scored 20 points while Spaniard Ricky Rubio had 13 along with eight rebounds and 13 assists for the injury-depleted T-Wolves (20-35), who have dropped four straight games and 20 of their last 24.
• Chicago Bulls 93, Philadelphia 76ers 82:
Joakim Noah had 23 points with 21 rebounds and 11 blocked shots for his third career triple-double, and the Bulls sent the slumping Sixers to their seventh straight loss. Jrue Holiday netted 22 points while Spencer Hawes added 20 with 15 rebounds in Philadelphia’s ninth consecutive road defeat.