The NBA playoffs standings are into the second round and the LA Clippers have advanced over the San Antonio Spurs after a win in Game 7 on Saturday night for a 4-3 series win and it came after a great performance from Chris Paul, who made the game-winning shot to put Los Angeles into the second round against the Houston Rockets.
The Clippers and the Spurs went to Game 7 after Los Angeles won on the road in San Antonio and that forced a final matchup to see who would advance. The Clippers ended up winning 111-109 after a late shot from Chris Paul, who was hobbled for the entire game with a hamstring injury. Paul was injured early and had to go to the locker room for a stretch, but he was able to return and led his team to a victory.
The game was close the entire way, but the Clippers outscored the Spurs in all but one quarter and that was the third. The Clippers won the series 4-3 after a great performance from Paul, who had 27 points and the winning shot. DeAndre Jordan had 14 rebounds and Blake Griffin had 10 assists to help Los Angeles win over the Spurs. Tim Duncan played like a man half his age, putting up 27 points and 11 rebounds, while Manu Ginobili had seven assists.
The Clippers and Spurs were the only teams to play seven games and they had by far the best series in the first round and the toughest matchup. The west first round is not usually this evenly matched and things basically came down to the end with Chris Paul making a shot with just one second left on the clock. The game saw the teams trade the lead over 25 times and at the end they both were hitting shots down the stretch to keep things close.
Tim Duncan tied the game late with free throws and after that, Paul was able to drive the ball and put it in with a floater off the backboard. There was one second on the clock and the Spurs did not get the chance to put up a shot at the end to try and win it. "It's only round one, but that team over there, I mean, it's crazy that this was the first round of the playoffs," Paul said, according to ESPN.com. Paul silenced many critics who have said in the past that he does not show up for "big games" and it came as he was hobbling from a hamstring injury.
The team now will play the Houston Rockets, who defeated the Dallas Mavericks in the first round of the playoffs. Paul had one of his best games in his playoff career, putting up 27 points, including the game winner, while hitting nine of his 13 shots, which included five three-pointers. Paul now leads his team into the second round and this could be the best chance for Paul, Blake Griffin and DeAndre Jordan to make a deep playoff run.
Check here for the NBA playoffs standings and schedule.
