On the busiest day of sporting events in recent memory, Chris Paul topped everything. On Saturday, the Clippers and Spurs played one of the best Game 7s in NBA history that ended 111-109 thanks to a falling, fading banked layup from Chris Paul that sent his team to the next round.
Spurs vs. Clippers Game 7 final score: Chris Paul beats San Antonio in unbelievable Game 7
After an incredible series, heroics from Chris Paul sends Los Angeles over San Antonio.
Jayne Kamin-Oncea-USA TODAY Sports
It's incredible Paul was even playing to finish this game after going to the locker room with a hamstring injury late in the first. He tweaked it again in the third quarter, immediately pulling up trying to drive the lane. Both times he came back, limping on the bum leg to light up the Spurs for an incredible 27 points on 9-13 shooting with six assists. He struggled to move laterally on defense and even deferred to Jamal Crawford or another teammate taking the ball up the floor, but Paul would not be denied a victory.
The biggest lead of the game for either team was seven points, and in the second half, it never went past six. Those looking for back-and-forth blows being delivered didn’t even need to watch Saturday’s enormous boxing match, because these two teams hit each other with haymakers dozens of times down the stretch of the fourth quarter and kept coming back. Twitter actively counted the number of lead changes during the game, which finally ended up at 31.
Matt Barnes hit a huge three-pointer from the top of the key to tie the game at 105 with about two minutes ago, answering Kawhi Leonard, who had given the Spurs a three-point lead moments before after rebounding a missed free throw. What followed was a wild series of blocks, including an incredible one from Danny Green that was his fifth of the game. After trading baskets again, Chris Paul put the Clippers ahead 109-107 with 13 seconds remaining with a pair of made free throws. Tim Duncan answered back with two free throws of his own. All it did was set up Paul's heroics.
The superb nature of this game was established very early in the first half, though. The Clippers battled through Paul's early absence, with Blake Griffin and Jamal Crawford picking up the slack. Griffin's 13 first-half points were matched by the ageless Tim Duncan (not actually ageless, but 39), who continued to eschew aging to continue his spectacular career of basketball.
Both teams were title contenders playing one of the finest series of basketball we’ve ever seen. It’s a shame it had to ever end. Sadly, this is how the Spurs’ season -- and maybe even their dynasty -- ends.
Here’s three things we learned.
1. That was one of the greatest Game 7s ever
For all their allure and mystique, Game 7s are usually low-scoring slugfests. Everyone knows what’s at stake, defenses tighten up and players -- even those with years of playoff experience -- maybe have a few more big game jitters than usual.
And then there was this one. What a game. What an incredible, magnificent show of basketball excellence from two teams who are so gifted with special, historic players. As the fourth quarter ticked down, each play that was made was seemingly more and more absurd. There’s no way to single one or two out; a highlight reel for this game might as well be the entire 48 minutes. It made you wish basketball was best of nine games, or 11, or 45. It made you wish that this game went to several dozen overtimes. Instead, Paul hit that shot in a game that sent the one of the greatest dynasties in this sport home for the summer.
2. Chris Paul was playing ON ONE LEG
Paul grabbed the hamstring late in the first quarter while coming down the floor, and even though he hit a three-pointer on the same possession, he had to go to the locker room immediately afterwards. After missing a little more than six minutes of game action, Paul returned but was still clearly favoring his injured leg. It looked like he had figured out how to manage with a leg and a half -- and then he tweaked it again.
His teammates were incredible. The Clippers played with a cohesion and unity that matched the selfless Spurs every step of the way, but they couldn’t have done it without Paul. What a performance from a man whose credentials in big moments should never be questioned again.
3. Tim Duncan is immortal
At this point, that’s the only thing that makes sense. The Spurs’ first round dismissal was no fault of his own (if it was anyone’s fault at all), and in Game 7, he tallied 27 points, 11 rebounds and 11-16 shooting. That sums up a series where he averaged 18 points on 59 percent shooting and 11 rebounds, three assists and a block.
He’s 39 now. Please don’t retire, Timmy. Just keep doing this forever.
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