Final
Paul's last-second shot gives Clippers 2-0 series lead
Apr 23, 2013 - 7:13 AM Los Angeles, CA (Sports Network) - Chris Paul made the game-winning shot with 0.1 seconds remaining and the Los Angeles Clippers snuck past the Memphis Grizzlies, 93-91, in Game 2 of this first-round Western Conference playoff series.Marc Gasol's slam with 13.9 seconds left tied the game at 91. Following a timeout, Paul drove to the hoop and made a running bank shot against Tony Allen to give Los Angeles a 2-0 series lead.
"Tony played as good as defense as you can," Paul said. "I looked up at the clock and thought I better get a shot off."
Paul ended with 24 points and nine assists for the Clippers, who won by a 112-91 margin in Game 1 on Saturday. Blake Griffin tallied 21 points and eight rebounds.
"My teammates got me open shots and easy looks and that gets me going," Griffin said.
Mike Conley had 28 points and nine assists to pace the Grizzlies, who trailed by 12 early in the fourth quarter. Gasol donated 17 points and seven boards, while Tony Allen finished with 16 points and 10 rebounds.
Game 3 of this best-of-seven series is set for Thursday in Memphis.
The Clippers seemed poised for another strong finish after starting the fourth quarter on an 8-0 run. Matt Barnes and Eric Bledsoe each tallied four points during the spurt, giving the home team an 83-71 lead with 9:50 to play.
Conley answered with five straight points to spark a 13-4 Memphis run. He ended with 10 points during the surge, including a layup with three minutes left to cut the gap to 87-84.
Paul's 17-foot jumper gave the Clippers a five-point edge, but Darrell Arthur scored the next five points to tie the game. After making a jumper, Arthur took an outlet pass from Allen and went in for a dunk. He was fouled on the play and made the ensuing free throw to make it 89-89 with 1:37 to go.
Paul made a jumper at the other end to give Los Angeles the lead again. The Clippers had a chance to extend their margin after Gasol missed a short jumper. A jumpball took place when Paul and Allen battled for a loose ball, and the Clippers won the tip. Paul was forced to fire up a 31-foot jumper with the shot clock about to expire.
Memphis capitalized at the other end when Gasol set a pick for Conley and rolled to the hoop for an easy slam, tying the contest with 13.9 ticks left on the clock.
"We thought we played as good as we could but they made the play at the end," Conley said.
After each team scored 26 points in the first quarter, the Clippers outscored Memphis by a 24-18 margin in the second frame to take a 50-44 margin into the locker room.
Los Angeles held a 75-71 edge following a third quarter that featured four lead changes and two ties.
Game Notes
Los Angeles, which scored 37 points in the fourth stanza on Saturday, scored just 18 points in the final frame on Monday ... The Clippers have won nine straight games dating back to the regular season ... Each team made just two shots from beyond the arc ... Los Angeles had 10 blocks.
- MEMPHIS: 91
LOS ANGELES: 93
Final
Apr 23 1:31 AM - MEMPHIS: 91
LOS ANGELES: 93
End of Regulation
Apr 23 1:31 AM - MEMPHIS: 71
LOS ANGELES: 75
End of 3rd
Apr 23 12:45 AM - MEMPHIS: 44
LOS ANGELES: 50
Halftime
Apr 22 11:55 PM - MEMPHIS: 26
LOS ANGELES: 26
End of 1st
Apr 22 11:13 PM - MEMPHIS: 0
LOS ANGELES: 0
1st Quarter - 11:51
Apr 22 10:47 PM
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