Clips top Heat in OT after LBJ blows free throws
LOS ANGELES – It was the second of the three NBA elite teams the Los Angeles Clippers would face this week, this one the Miami Heat and its Big Three.
The Clippers took care of business this time, keeping their cool, staying calm, pulling out a 95-89 victory over the Heat on Wednesday.
Chris Paul directed the attack, scoring a season-high 27 points, handing out 11 assists and grabbing six rebounds as the Clippers outscored the Heat 9-3 in overtime.
Blake Griffin and Caron Butler both had 20 points for the Clippers.
Deandre Jordan had eight points, 11 rebounds and six blocked shots.
Lebron James led the Heat with 23 points, 13 rebounds and seven assists. But he was just nine for 17 from the freethrow line.
Dwyane Wade had 17 points and Chris Bosh had 16 points and 11 rebounds.
It was the Clippers’ first backto-back game of the season, following a loss in Portland on Tuesday night.
The Heat also had played on consecutive nights, losing in overtime at Golden State on Tuesday night.
However, neither team backed down, both going hard at each other.
James broke an 83-83 tie by making one of two free throws with 1:21 left, giving the Heat an 84-83 lead and forcing the Clippers to call a timeout.
Paul missed a floater, but James also missed, opening the door again for the Clippers after they called a time out with 32.4 seconds left.
The ball wound up in Billups’ hands. He shot a three-pointer that missed, but he was fouled by James, who argued the call to no avail.
Billups, who entered the game making 96.9 percent of his free throws, made all three free throws for an 86-84 Clippers lead with 27.3 seconds left.
Miami turned to James, who was fouled driving to the basket.
James made his first free throw, but missed the second, leaving the Heat down 86-85.
But the Clippers couldn’t collect the defensive rebound because it went off of Griffin and out of bounds with 14.7 seconds left.
James got fouled again with 5.1 seconds left. Again, he missed one free throw and made the other to tie the score at 86-86.
Paul, with James on his hip, got free for a floater that missed as time expired, sending the game into overtime.
When Griffin picked up his fourth foul on a charge, he was forced to take a seat on the bench with 1:46 left in the third, the Clippers losing one of their primary scorers. But Paul went to work. Paul scored back-to-back baskets, the last a three-point play. Then he found Jordan for a dunk on a quick whip pass that had the Heat defense dumbfounded.
Paul’s play helped the Clippers open a 70-69 lead entering the fourth quarter.
They next play host to the Lakers on Saturday night, another of the elite teams coming for a visit.
Another victory would make it a very good week
(Los Angeles Times/mct)
Lakers 90, Jazz 87 (OT)
SALT LAKE CITY – The Los Angeles Lakers got a road win, and Kobe Bryant got some help to make it happen.
Bryant was plenty vivacious on the second night of a backto-back situation, scoring 40 points Wednesday night at Energysolutions Arena, but it was two plays by his teammates that led to a series of quick hugs, high-fives and pats on the head after the final buzzer.
Pau Gasol made his first three-point shot of the season, giving the Lakers the lead in the extra period, and Andrew Bynum made sure it held up when he blocked Al Jefferson’s shot with 1.9 seconds left, securing a 90-87 victory over the Utah Jazz.
Gasol had missed his first three three-point attempts this season, but he spotted up beyond the arc and didn’t hesitate after taking a pass from Bryant.
With the Lakers still leading by a point in the final seconds, the Jazz had a chance to win before Bynum stepped up and swatted Jefferson’s shot, the ball landing in Bryant’s hands before he was fouled and made two free throws with 0.7 seconds left.
“The guy turned the corner and I had to step up,” said Bynum, who finished with 12 points, nine rebounds and five blocks. “I got a hand on it. Just playing basketball.”