LOS ANGELES -- There were two great championship fights on Saturday night as the reigning NBA Champion San Antonio Spurs and the Los Angeles Clippers clashed for an epic battle that epitomizes the two greatest words in professional sports: "Game Seven."
Similar to a heavyweight fight, both teams traded blows throughout the 48 minutes of action. The Spurs thought they had knocked the Clips out early in the first quarter when Chris Paul had to head to the locker room early in the first quarter for what appeared to be a serious hamstring injury.
Conjuring images of Willis Reed, Paul came back from the injury and willed his team to victory, hitting a circus-like bank shot over Tim Duncan with one second left to lead the Clippers 111-109 over the Spurs.
"I know it's only round one, but that team over there, I mean, it's crazy that this was the first round of the playoffs," said a stunned Paul after the game.
The victory not only eliminated the defending champions and advanced the Clippers to the second round of the playoffs against Houston, but it also saw the coronation of Paul as one of the NBA's elite playoff performers.
After dribbling down the court midway through the first quarter, Paul grabbed his hamstring, hit a three, and immediately headed for the Clippers bench grimacing in pain. Paul sat on the bench listening to Clippers trainer Jasen Powell and other members of the medical staff. He sat stunned, motionless, with his hands over his head, trying to fight back tears.
After an extensive stay in the locker room that spanned nearly 20 minutes, Paul emerged from the tunnel to the roar of the crowd adorned in a sea of red and stepped back onto the court with 6:27 remaining in the second quarter.
"He's just a tough kid. He's a street fighter," said Clippers head coach Doc Rivers of Paul. "I mean he really is. I love him to death because of his well.
Paul scored 27 points and six assists in what will go down in history as one of the greatest game seven performances of all time.
"He was unbelievable," said Duncan of Paul. "Just unbelievable. I know he was playing a little hurt, and he played through all that, found ways to get it done I mean, just an unbelievable last shot over two of us. He's just a great leader, and it was amazing to watch. I wish I wasn't on the other end."
Duncan had 27 points and 11 rebounds to lead the Spurs. It was his sixth double-double of the series.
Blake Griffin had a triple-double with 24 points, 13 rebounds and 10 assists.
DeAndre Jordan had 7 points and a game-high 14 rebounds.
JJ Redick scored 14 points, Jamal Crawford had 16 off the bench and Matt Barnes had his best game of the series with 17 points.
Limping and favoring his right leg, Paul hit two free throws with 10 seconds to left to put the Clippers up 109-107. Then, after two Duncan free throws, Paul hit the game-winning shot from just outside the paint with 1.0 second left on the clock.
The San Antonio Spurs will not be defending their title, nor advancing to the NBA Finals for the third consecutive year. Instead they go back to Texas with a lot of questions marks for the future of the franchise. Duncan and Manu Ginobli are free agents this offseason and the Spurs are not exactly spring chickens.
The Spurs had five players in double figures. Boris Diaw had 12 points off the bench, Kawhi Leonard had 13, Tony Parker 20 and Danny Green caught fire from downtown scoring 16.
Game Notes:
Dave Winfield, Juicy J, Morris Chestnut, and Pharrell all were in attendance for the game.
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