Chris Paul Carries Clippers Over Spurs 105-86 On Emotional Day

Despite arriving in Los Angeles only two hours ahead of the tip-off for Thursday night’s matchup with the San Antonio Spurs, Los Angeles Clippers’ point guard Chris Paul had one of his bet games of the season.

Paul scored 26 of his 28 points in the second half and also managed to dish out 12 assists and snag 5 rebounds.  Paul and shooting guard J.J. Redick lead the Clippers on a 20-8 run to start the third quarter to expand their lead to 20 points, 62-42.

San Antonio would answer though and trim the lead down to just nine at the end of the third, thanks to a strong all-around team effort to get back into the game. With about 10 and half minutes left in the game, Spurs’ point guard Tony Parker split a pair of free throws to cut the deficit to five and make it a 67-72 game.

Initiate the Paul fourth-quarter takeover. Following Parker’s make, Paul assisted on a Jamal Crawford three pointer and drove past the Spurs for a layup on back-to-back possessions.  He would to on to score 13 more points in the next 6:39, while shooting 4-5 from the field plus an additional 3 free-throws to put the game away and sub out of the game with a 98-79 Clippers lead with 2:06 left in the game.

The Spurs (45-9),were playing with out All-Star small forward Kawhi Leonard, who sat out with a tight left calf, and struggled mightily without him.  The fifth-year San Diego State product and 2014 NBA Defensive Player of the Year averages 20.2 points, 2.5 assists, and 6.7 rebounds per game, while also leading the NBA in 3-point percentage (.482%).  San Antonio only managed to put up 34 points in the first half.

Players and coaches from both teams attended the funeral of Ingrid Williams, the wife of Oklahoma City Thunder assistant coach, Monty Williams, in Oklahoma City.  Ingrid was killed in a car accident last week, she was 44 years old.

“It really put a lot of stuff in perspective,” Paul said. “At the end of the day, it is just basketball.”

Paul attended the funeral with Clippers’ coach Doc Rivers, shooting guard Austin Rivers, and Spurs’ coach Gregg Popovich, power forwards Tim Duncan and David West.

Prior to the game the Clippers acquired small forward Jeff Green from the Memphis Grizzlies for shooting guard Lance Stephenson.  Green previously played under Rivers as a member of the Boston Celtics.

Rivers told the Los Angeles Times, “I really wanted more length,” Rivers said. “We need to get longer, more athletic and [improve] our shooting and I think with Jeff we did all three things.”

The Clippers (36-18) finally got their first win against one of the West’s top three teams and will look for their second in their next game February 20, at home against Golden State (48-4).

The Spurs will stay in Los Angeles to take on the Lakers (11-44) tonight at 10:30 p.m.

PHOTO: LOS ANGELES, CA – FEBRUARY 03: Chris Paul #3 of the Los Angeles Clippers dribbles the ball during the second half of a game against the Minnesota Timberwolves at Staples Center on February 3, 2016 in Los Angeles, California. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Sean M. Haffey/Getty Images)