MIAMI, FL, Sporting Alert – Chris Paul recovered from a dreadful start to score 22 points and lead the Los Angeles Clippers to a 100-93 win over the Miami Heat in the NBA on Sunday. Box score
Paul, who scored just seven points in the first half on 2 for 13 shooting, went 6 for 10 in the second half to lead the way for the Clippers (34-17), who won two straight on the road and improved to 17-9 away from Staples Center.
The All-Star point guard started 0 for 9, but he never thought about stop shooting the ball.
“I kept shooting it (the ball) because sooner or later it had to go in. Just tried to stay aggressive,” Paul said, who also finished with seven assists.
Jamal Crawford continued his strong scoring form this season by adding 20 points off the bench, while J.J. Redick ended with 14 points in the win for the LA Clippers, who shot 45.7 percent from the floor and forced 13 turnovers.
Reserve forward Wesley Johnson had 10 points and seven rebounds off the bench, DeAndre Jordan went 3 for 4 from the floor, including a couple of dunks off passes from Paul and Crawford to end with nine points, 11 rebounds and three blocks, while Cole Aldrich pulled down 11 boards for Los Angeles.
The Clippers continue to be without star forward Blake Griffin, who recently underwent a second surgery on his broken hand while backup guard Austin Rivers will miss four to six weeks with a broken left hand the team is reporting.
“That was a team win because nobody really had it going,” said Clippers coach Doc Rivers. “But our defense really had it going all game.”
Chris Bosh, Dwyane Wade and Goran Dragic all scored 17 points for the Miami Heat, who had won two straight heading into this game.
“They made big plays down the stretch,” Wade said. “That’s the way we’ve been winning of late, so we can’t be mad at that.
“We got a little taste of our own medicine.”
Dragic also dished out five assists and five rebounds, while Bosh also ended with five boards in the defeats.
Luol Deng shot 5 for 9 from the floor to add 15 points and eight rebounds, with Hassan Whiteside pulling in a double-double of 10 points and 10 rebounds for the Heat (29-23).
After going behind by 12 points, the Heat managed to pull within three points, at 86-83 with 4:33 left in the game, but back-to-back 3-pointers from Paul and then another by Crawford with 1:49 left, took the game away from Miami.
The LA Clippers return to action on Monday at the Philadelphia 76ers, while the Heat will host the San Antonio Spurs on Tuesday.
