Paul lifts Clippers past Spurs, 111-109, in Game 7
Los Angeles Clippers forward Blake Griffin, left, and San Antonio Spurs forward Tim Duncan battle for a rebound during the second half of Game 7 in a first-round NBA basketball playoff series, Saturday, May 2, 2015, in Los Angeles. The Clippers won 111-109. AP
LOS ANGELES, United States — Chris Paul banked in a shot with a second left to lift the Los Angeles Clippers to a thrilling 111-109 victory over San Antonio in Game 7 on Saturday that eliminated the defending NBA champion Spurs from the playoffs.
After Spurs veteran Tim Duncan made two free throws to tie it with 8.8 seconds left, Paul drove the right side. He originally was covered by Danny Green before Duncan came over to help. Paul put up a one-handed shot over the 39-year-old that went in as he was falling away.
Paul said coach Doc Rivers spoke to him and Blake Griffin before the game about last-shot scenarios.
“We’ve been in that situation a lot of times already this year, and most of the time I hadn’t made it,” Paul said. “We talked about it, and finally it worked when we needed it.”
Rivers said Paul, who was hampered by a hamstring injury, is “just a tough kid. He’s a street fighter. I mean, he really is. I love him to death because of his will.”
Duncan said Paul’s shot was “just unbelievable. I know he was playing a little hurt, and he played through all that, found ways to get it done. Just an unbelievable last shot over two of us. He’s just a great leader, and it was amazing to watch. I wish I wasn’t on the other end.”
Matt Barnes knocked away the inbound pass to seal the victory and the Staples Center crowd went crazy after the Clippers advanced to the Western Conference semifinals for just the fourth time in franchise history.
The Clippers, who faltered at home in Games 2 and 5, move on to face Houston starting Monday.
Paul scored 18 of his 27 points in the second half, including four big 3-pointers.
Duncan had 27 points and 11 rebounds, his sixth double-double of the series.
Paul missed the final 2 minutes of the first quarter and the first 5 1/2 minutes of the second quarter. He appeared to get hurt as he dribbled up court before making a 3-pointer. He sat on the bench with his head in his hands before leaving for the locker room.
“I thought about the team and all the things we’d been through,” Paul said. “I know that if it was any other guy on our team in a situation like this, they wouldn’t lay down, so I just tried to find a way.”
Blake Griffin had 24 points, 13 rebounds and 10 assists for Los Angeles for his second triple-double of the series.
The Clippers trailed by five points with 5:42 left before Griffin made two free throws and J.J. Redick a 3-pointer to tie it at 97 with 3:58 to go.
The teams traded leads during the final minutes, with Duncan, Kawhi Leonard and Manu Ginobili scoring for the Spurs and Barnes hitting a 3-pointer for the Clippers.
Paul made two three throws with 13.3 seconds left for a 109-107 lead before Duncan was fouled by Redick and made both shots. There was just enough time for Paul to reply.
