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The
Los Angeles Clippers' 10-point lead late in regulation had evaporated, and
Blake Griffin stood helplessly at their bench with hands on hips after fouling out in overtime. A building full of red-shirted fans sat nervously, dreading another disaster for a franchise with more than its share.
Except
Chris Paul wasn't around for any of the Clippers' bad times.
While everybody else worried, he calmly shepherded his club out of another perilous spot and onto the brink of something big.
Paul scored eight of his 27 points in a dynamic overtime performance, and the Clippers moved to the verge of their second playoff series victory in 36 years with a 101-97 win over the
Memphis Grizzlies on Monday night, taking a 3-1 series lead.
"It's fun, it's exciting," said Paul, who atoned for his inability to score at the regulation buzzer.
"The worst mistake I probably made in the game was not getting the shot at the end of regulation," he added. "If I was at home watching it on TV, I'd be talking so bad about me. But you've got to get through it. The [best] thing about it is that I have teammates that have confidence in me. Everything that we do is a team win."
Maybe so, but the Clippers were ever so grateful to rely on their All-Star point guard.
Griffin had 30 points and seven assists before fouling out with 2:26 left in overtime for the Clippers, who blew an 84-74 lead over the final 4½ minutes of regulation before Paul took charge in the overtime. He played with the same intensity he showed late in regulation, heedlessly flinging himself over the front row of chairs in an attempt to save a loose ball.
"He's a great player, and that's what great players do," Memphis coach
Lionel Hollins said.
Game 5 is Wednesday night in Memphis, with Game 6 back at
Staples Center on Friday if necessary.
After Paul hit consecutive jumpers to put the Clippers ahead 99-93 with 44 seconds left,
Mike Conley's layup with 8.1 seconds left trimmed the Clippers' lead back to two points. But after
Mo Williams hit two free throws with 7.2 seconds left and
Rudy Gay missed a meaningless 3-pointer, Griffin and Paul embraced while another frenzied sellout crowd of long-suffering Clippers fans roared.
"Chris is always intense," Clippers coach
Vinny Del Negro said. "That's what makes him special. Chris is so good, not only at making plays for himself, but making the right play. That's what makes him a star."
http://scores.espn.go.com/nba/recap?gameId=320507012
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