Los Angeles Clippers and Chris Paul barely survived their biggest test of the season yesterday, when they defeated Miami Heat 95-89 in an overtime victory, proving that they are good enough to beat even the best of NBA. It was an exciting match in which Chris Paul recorded 27 points and 11 assists to upstage Heat’s LeBron James and Dwyane Wade. This performance was the key to the Heat’s second overtime loss in as many days in the NBA. LeBron James finished with 23 points, 13 rebounds and 7 assists, while Dwyane Wade added 17 points. But both teams, somehow, struggled to find their point scoring touches.
For most part of the match, the Clippers trailed the Heat. But they ended the third quarter with a 10-4 run, which gave them that much needed confidence for the fourth quarter, which they badly needed. Heat, on the other hand, seemed to lost confidence throughout the match. They had started well, but finished off quite badly as is evident from the results.
Chris Paul was definitely happy about the win as the said to the media afterwards that it was a good win for them and they are happy having out performed Miami Heat. He also hoped that this particular win will give the team a little momentum as they have a pretty tough season coming up.
In the extra session, Miami was held to one field goal, a three-pointer from Mario Chalmers saw them at 90-89, but Clippers scored the final five points to seal the victory on the dying moments of the match.
Eric Spoelstra, coach of the Miami Heat, had to be ejected as he argued a non-call with the match officials. James scored just 7 out of 19 shots, along with 9 out of 17 throws as Miami Heat failed to make a field goal in the final seven minutes of the fourth quarter. They stayed in touch only by getting to the foul line, where the team shot almost 58 percent.
“I put a lot of free throws on me. It is kind of a rhythm. I need to concentrate a little more at the free throw line and knock them down and we will be fine,” James LeBron said after the match.
After the Clippers went ahead 86-84 thanks to the three free throws from Chauncey Billups in the final thirty seconds of the regulation time, LeBron split four free throw attempts to tie the game and take it to overtime. This happened right after Chris Paul missed a shot at the last buzzer.
Basketball betting market was quite hot before this game and almost everyone had predicted that the Heat are going to clip the Clippers quite easily. But it seems that made an error in judging the Clippers capabilities after all.
The Clippers are now in the second position in the Pacific Division, after their city rivals the Los Angeles Lakers, who are on a four match winning streak.
