Clippers, Paul knock out Spurs in Game 7
Chris Paul banked in a shot over Tim Duncan with a second left to lift the Clippers to a 111-109 victory over the defending NBA champion Spurs in Game 7 on Saturday night for a wild finish to an entertaining Western Conference firstround series.
After Duncan made two free throws to tie it with 8.8 seconds left, Paul drove the right side and put up a one-handed shot over the 39-year Spurs star that went in as he was falling away. Matt Barnes knocked away an inbound pass intended for Kawhi Leonard to seal the victory.
The Clippers, who faltered at home in Games 2 and 5, move on to face the Rockets in the semifinals starting Monday night in Houston.
Paul returned from an early hamstring injury to finish with 27 points on 9-of-13 shooting. Duncan also had 27 points.
Conley’s status uncer
tain: The Warriors waited a week for another playoff game, but they’re still not sure who they’re facing in the Western Conference semifinals.
They know they’ll host the Grizzlies in Game 1 on Sunday. They just have no idea whether Mike Conley can play after having surgery to repair broken bones in his face or how the Grizzlies will adjust if they must go without their point guard.
“I’m not ruling him out until I don’t see him on the court in Game 1,” Warriors center Andrew Bogut said.
The Grizzlies said the swelling in Conley’s face must subside before he can be fitted for a protective mask.