Paul shines as Clippers down Lakers
{{#rendered}} {{/rendered}}The Los Angeles Clippers had a mini skid following their franchise-record winning streak, but Chris Paul helped them rediscover their winning ways against their in-city rivals.
Paul tallied 30 points, including his team's last eight, 13 assists and six rebounds in the Clippers' 107-102 win over the Los Angeles Lakers.
"Whether scoring or passing, Chris is always involved," Clippers forward Blake Griffin said. "It's great to get a win like this against a team like this. Our rhythm was pretty good on offense."
{{#rendered}} {{/rendered}}Griffin added 24 points for the Clippers, who snapped a brief two-game slide on the heels of their record-setting 17-game stretch.
Kobe Bryant poured in 38 points for the Lakers, who have dropped three of their last four contests following a five-game winning streak.
The Lakers trailed by as many as 19 in the fourth before Bryant led his squad on a 12-3 run. Bryant had six points during the surge, including a long straightaway two-point jumper to cap it and pull the purple and gold within 99-97 with 1:44 left.
{{#rendered}} {{/rendered}}Paul, though, took over from there.
He drew a foul on Dwight Howard, who fouled out on the play with 1:07 remaining, and proceeded to sink both free throws. After Bryant's triple from the left wing rimmed in and out, Paul's step-back jumper with 19.9 to go was the dagger, making it 103-97 with 19.9 ticks to play.
Earlier, the Clippers responded used a 15-2 run that bridged the opening and second frame to create some distance. Matt Barnes' 3-pointer capped the surge and made it 42-24 in favor of the Clippers with 8:08 to go in the stanza.
{{#rendered}} {{/rendered}}Back-to-back Bryant buckets a bit later concluded an 11-0 Lakers swing and pulled the visitors within 48-43 with 3:06 remaining until the half.
But the Clips outscored the Lakers 13-8 the rest of the way and Paul's step- back jumper at the buzzer gave his squad a 61-51 spread heading into the break.
"In the first half we missed a lot of open shots. We found some things in the end and Kobe got us back in the game. We have to just keep plugging away," Lakers head coach Mike D'Antoni said.
{{#rendered}} {{/rendered}}Paul, who had 12 points and 11 assists in the opening half, ended a 10-5 swing late in the third with a three-point play to make it 85-69 before the Clips headed into the fourth with an 87-71 spread.
Game Notes
The Clippers turned the ball over 16 times, which led to 20 points for the Lakers ... The Clippers held a 52-36 points in the paint advantage ... The Clippers shot 50 percent (41-of-82) from the field ... Howard had 21 points and 15 rebounds.