Chris Paul drops 29 points as Los Angeles Clippers squeak past Orlando Magic in overtime: NBA Recap
With 2:35 remaining in overtime and the Los Angeles Clippers trailing by 100-96, Chris Paul dished out the ball to Caron Butler for a jumper. Seconds later, the swingman again found Butler beyond the arc. The result was go ahead
three and the Clippers never looked back.
Paul ended with game figures of 29 points and 8 assists as the Clippers survived a huge night from Dwight Howard to hold onto a 107-102 win. The Orlando Magic big hammered a game high 33 points and 14 rebounds in a game, which
the Magic led by as many as 15 points in the first half.
The win saw the Clippers put an end to a 9 game losing skid against the Magic and also gave them a 2-0 start to the six-game road trip. The win however came at a price, one that may prove to be significant as the season progresses.
Chauncey Billups, the veteran point guard, who has been a pivotal cog of the Clips setup suffered a left Achilles injury late in the fourth quarter, moments after he had knocked down two consecutive 3’s to put the Clippers ahead by 8. He did not return and
is expected to be out for at least two weeks.
"It's bittersweet," Clippers coach Vinny Del Negro said. "We'll have to see what happens. Everybody stepped up, but it's been that kind of season and with Chauncey's situation, we've definitely got to have everybody playing well.
Magic, who also got 20 points from Jason Richardson, were on a roll early and after making 8-of-9 from the floor to start off with a 18-13 lead, they raced off to a 14-2 run to draw out a 30-15 lead. The Clippers closed the first
quarter with consecutive points though and 14-2 spurt early in the second frame got them back within striking distance, 39-41.
Magic however manages to take a 47-42 lead into the interval and were ahead till Paul drilled a three on the stroke of the fourth minute. Butler followed with another trey and the Clips were off and running. After finishing the
third on a 65-62 lead, the visitors stretched their lead to as many as 9, at 76-67, before Magic made a late surge to tie the game at 89, 2:45 remaining in regulation.
Magic kept on hounding the Clippers and Jason Richardson three-point play inside the last minutes put them ahead by one, 94-93. Griffin went to the line on the ensuing possession, but made only one of two, giving the Magic one
final shot at the rim with plenty of time. Fortunately for him and the Clips, Jameer Nelson, who returned to the lineup after missing five consecutive games with concussion symptoms, missed an open-look three and the game headed into overtime.
The overtime was greeted by two consecutive 3’s from Nelson and J.J. Redick as the Magic raced away to a 100-96 lead. The duo of Butler and Paul however took over and when Richardson and Anderson missed a flurry of shots deep,
the game was sealed.
Nelson finished the night with 15 points and 12 dimes, while Anderson had 10. For the Clippers, Griffin and Billups scored 18 apiece and Butler ended the night on 14 points.
"Our guys played hard." Magic coach Stan Van Gundy said after the game. "The only thing I fault our guys for was the start of the third quarter. The first six minutes, we came with no energy whatsoever. The rest, it's on me."
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