NBA -- It's sweet sixteen for the L.A. Clippers
By Homer D. Sayson
PhilBoxing.com
Sat, 29 Dec 2012
CHICAGO -- After a torrid winning streak of 15 games plus a punishing schedule of three games in four nights, you'd think the Los Angeles Clippers would finally slow down against the Utah Jazz at the Energy Solutions Arena.
Apparently not.
On the strength of Chris Paul's 29 points and six assists, the Clippers overhauled a 19-point deficit to beat the stunned Jazz, 116-114. Paul went 8-for-18 from the field and 13-for-14 from the free throw stripe. He completed L,A's remarkable comeback with two free throws in the final 3.4 seconds off an ill-advised reach-in foul by Jazz center Al Jefferson some 15 feet away form the basket.
"This might be the most fun one of the streak so far," Paul told the Los Angeles Times. Just because of the intensity of it. It was emotional. Guys really had to fight for it and we stuck togehter. We were down 19 and we could have come up with any excuse in the book. It's back-to-back. We have won enough in a row. But we fought, and we showed a lot of grit," Paul said.
Blake Grififn had another huge night, 22 points and 13 rebounds, The high-flying power forward found L.A.'s franchise record-setting 16th consecutive victory especially sweet. "This one was great for us because we kind of needed a challenge, something to prove not only to everyboy else but ourselves that even we could still win close games like this. It shows that we can win a game when we're down 19 in the third," said Griffin.
There was no shortage of top performers among the Clippers. Center DeAndre Jordan had 16 points and 10 rebounds. Starting small forward Caron Butler finished with 14 while ace reserve Jamal Crawford pinched in 12 for Los Angeles, which trailed 74-55 at the 8:09 mark of the third quarter.
Former Clipper Randy Foye paced the Jazz with 28 while Jefferson had 22 and eight rebounds. Gordon Hayward registered 17.
It was the second straight loss for the 15-16 Jazz, dropping their home record to 9-4.
at 24-6, the Clippers kept the NBA's best record overall, full game ahead of the 22-6 Oklahoma City Thunder. (HDS)
Click here to view a list of other articles written by Homer D. Sayson.
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