Hobbled Chris Paul lifts Clips over Spurs on last-second shot
May 3, 2015
LOS ANGELES -- It figured that the most entertaining first-round series in the NBA playoffs would come down to a play involving
Chris Paul and
Tim Duncan.
Paul, who willed himself back from an early hamstring injury, banked in a shot over Duncan with a second left to lift the Los Angeles Clippers to a wild 111-109 victory in Game 7 on Saturday night that eliminated the defending NBA champion San Antonio Spurs from the playoffs.
After 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 Spurs star that went in as he was falling away.
Rivers said he wasn't sure whether Paul would be ready for Game 1 due to the hamstring.
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.