It was a scary moment early on in game 7 for the Los Angeles Clippers, as they watched Chris Paul head back to the locker room with a hamstring injury. Fans held their breath in concern, but could let that breath out when the Los Angeles star returned to the game a quarter later. He would go on to hit the game-winning shot with a second left to send the Clippers to a 111-109 win over the San Antonio Spurs for the 4-3 series win on Saturday night.
Paul hit the game-winner over Tim Duncan, who had hit two free throws to tie the game with 8.8 seconds left. The win sends the Clippers to the semifinals for the fourth time in franchise history, where they will do battle with James Harden and the Houston Rockets.
It was a much-needed home win in the series for Los Angeles, who dropped games 2 and 5 at the Staples Center. CP3 scored 18 of his 27 points in the second half, following his injury, including 4 big three-pointers. His injury took place in the final two minutes of the first quarter and first five and a half minutes of the second. He would return before halftime and have a monster third quarter where he hit three shots from beyond the arc, including a buzzer-beating three to end the quarter.
Blake Griffin finished the night with 24 points, 13 rebounds, and 10 assists for his second triple-double of the series. Tim Duncan countered with 27 points and 11 rebounds for his sixth double-double of the first round.
Matt Barnes had 17 points for the Clippers, while Jamal Crawford added 16, and J.J. Redick 14. The Spurs got 20 points from Tony Parker, 16 from Danny Green, 13 from Kawhi Leonard, and 12 from Boris Diaw in their final game of the season.
The second-round series between the Clippers and Rockets will kick off on Monday night.
Paul hit the game-winner over Tim Duncan, who had hit two free throws to tie the game with 8.8 seconds left. The win sends the Clippers to the semifinals for the fourth time in franchise history, where they will do battle with James Harden and the Houston Rockets.
It was a much-needed home win in the series for Los Angeles, who dropped games 2 and 5 at the Staples Center. CP3 scored 18 of his 27 points in the second half, following his injury, including 4 big three-pointers. His injury took place in the final two minutes of the first quarter and first five and a half minutes of the second. He would return before halftime and have a monster third quarter where he hit three shots from beyond the arc, including a buzzer-beating three to end the quarter.
Blake Griffin finished the night with 24 points, 13 rebounds, and 10 assists for his second triple-double of the series. Tim Duncan countered with 27 points and 11 rebounds for his sixth double-double of the first round.
Matt Barnes had 17 points for the Clippers, while Jamal Crawford added 16, and J.J. Redick 14. The Spurs got 20 points from Tony Parker, 16 from Danny Green, 13 from Kawhi Leonard, and 12 from Boris Diaw in their final game of the season.
The second-round series between the Clippers and Rockets will kick off on Monday night.
