Clippers oust champs
Paul’s late layup clinches series win
Los Angeles eliminates San Antonio in a Game 7 thriller.
LOS ANGELES — Despite straining his left hamstring in the first quarter, Chris Paul banked in a leaner over Tim Duncan and finished with 27 points as the Clippers beat the Spurs, 111-109, to advance to the conference semifinals against the Houston Rockets.
Game 1 is Monday in Houston.
Clippers forward Blake Griffin added 24 points, 13 rebounds and 10 assists for his second triple-double of the series.
Duncan finished with 27 points and 11 rebounds to lead the Spurs. Point guard Tony Parker had 20 points.
Clippers shooting guard J.J. Redick’s 3-point jumper tied the score at 97-97 with 4:58 left.
After a basket by Duncan, Redick buried another 3pointer for a brief Clippers lead.
Griffin’s two free throws with 3:35 remaining put Los Angeles up, 102-101.
However, Duncan’s putback and forward Kawhi Leonard’s follow of a miss by guard Patty Mills lifted the Spurs to a 105-102 lead before Barnes’ 3pointer tied the score again at 105-105.
Parker’s putback made it 107-105 for the Spurs with 1:23 remaining. Clippers guard Jamal Crawford scored on a drive to tie the score.
Paul’s two free throws with 13.3 seconds left gave the Clippers a 109-107 lead.
Duncan converted two free throws with 8.8 seconds remaining to knot the score at 109-109 before Paul’s heroics.
There were 17 lead changes in the first half and seven ties before the Clippers took a 57-55 lead at the break.
The score was tied at 7676 with 7.8 seconds remaining in the third quarter when the Spurs got a break.
San Antonio guard Manu Ginobili drew a foul on Los Angeles guard Austin Rivers in the backcourt attempting a 3-pointer with 7.8 seconds left in the quarter.
Ginobili hit two of the three free throws.
However, Paul banked in a 3-pointer with 1.1 seconds left, giving Los Angeles a 7978 advantage heading into the fourth quarter.
Today
Game: Memphis Grizzlies vs. Golden State Warriors in Game 1 of a Western Conference semifinal, Oracle Arena, Oakland. When: 3:30 p.m. TV: WTAE. The skinny: The Warriors’ Stephen Curry is averaging an NBA postseason-best 33.8 ppg and has scored less than 34 points just once.