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Clippers edge Heat in overtime

Jan 12, 2012 - 7:38 AM Los Angeles, CA (Sports Network) - Chris Paul scored 27 points and dished out 11 assists as the Los Angeles Clippers took down the Miami Heat, 95-89, in overtime at Staples Center.

Caron Butler and Blake Griffin each added 20 points, while Chauncey Billups dropped in 12 for the Clippers, who won for the fourth time in five games. Griffin also pulled down 12 rebounds.

LeBron James paced the Heat with 23 points and 13 rebounds, but missed several free throws in the final minute of regulation that would have either tied the game or put Miami ahead.

Mario Chalmers had 18 points, Dwyane Wade scored 17 and Chris Bosh notched 16 with 11 boards for Miami, which dropped its second straight game in overtime.

"The Clippers made shots down the end and we couldn't close the door," Miami head coach Eric Spoelstra said. "That was great, compelling playoff basketball early in the season."

The Clippers entered the fourth quarter with a 70-69 lead, but Wade quickly put the Heat on top early in the frame with a jumper.

The largest lead of the final quarter was a 75-72 advantage by Miami on a Udonis Haslem layup, but the Clippers scored the next four points to retake the lead.

James converted a running jumper after a Billups turnover to put the Heat on top, 77-76, with 7:31 to go in the fourth and that would be the last field goal for Miami for the rest of regulation.

Miami held a 84-83 lead entering the final minute, but with 27.3 seconds left on the clock Billups was fouled while shooting a three-pointer and connected on all three free throws to give Los Angeles an 86-84 lead.

James then grabbed a pass off a screen out of a timeout and got off a layup that rolled off the rim. However, James was fouled on the play.

He made his first free throw, but his second was no good. The loose ball bounced towards the crowd and before it went out, Wade leapt out of bounds and threw the ball off of the leg of the Clippers' DeAndre Jordan to keep possession with Miami.

James was then fouled again in the paint after a shot fake and could have put the Heat ahead with two free throws, but he again made just one to the tie the game at 86 with 5.1 seconds left.

Paul's floater at the buzzer was a little short to force overtime.

Miami's offensive woes continued in the extra period as the Clippers scored the first four points on a pair of jumpers by Butler and Jordan, while Miami missed its first six shots of the extra period until a Chalmers trey brought Miami within 90-89 with 1 1/2 minutes to go in overtime.

That would be the last time Miami would score, though, as Griffin drove hard to the bucket on the ensuing possession. A Jordan jam after a missed three- pointer by Chalmers sealed the win for Los Angeles.

"That was a playoff-type game. To beat a team like that is huge," said Billups. "It was a good win for us."

Game Notes

Spoelstra was ejected from the game in the closing seconds of overtime for arguing with the officials...The Clippers are 1-0 in overtime this season, while the Heat fell to 1-2 in overtime...There were 20 lead changes and eight ties in the game...Miami went 20-of-34 from the foul line.