By Broderick Turner, Los Angeles Times –
LOS ANGELES — The Los Angeles Clippers didn’t go easily when they could have, when many thought they would have.
They played Game 4 of the Western Conference semifinal series against the San Antonio Spurs right up to the final few seconds of the game Sunday night.
(PHOTO: DeAndre Jordan of the Los Angeles Clippers reaches for the ball as San Antonio Spurs guard Tony Parker drives the lane in the first half during Game 4 of the NBA Western Conference Finals at Staples Center in Los Angeles, California)
Still, in the end, the Clippers dropped a 102-99 decision to the Spurs at Staples Center, getting swept out of the playoffs.
Chris Paul had been the Clippers’ savior all season, their closer. But he couldn’t save the day this time, missing on two plays late when the game hung in the balance.
And it was Paul’s best game of the series, his 23 points and 11 assists going a long way to help the Clippers stay in the game.
“Never an easy thing to finish a season off,” Clippers coach Vinny Del Negro said. “I’m very proud of the guys.”
Blake Griffin had 21 points and five rebounds.
Eric Bledsoe had a good game with 17 points, 11 in the fourth quarter.
DeAndre Jordan played his best game of the playoffs, scoring 10 points, grabbing eight rebounds and blocking three shots.
But it wasn’t enough because Tim Duncan had 21 points and nine rebounds and Tony Parker had 17 points.
“A lot of good things out of this season,” Del Negro said. “Difficult time right now for us.”
Paul drove into the teeth of San Antonio’s defense and lost the ball with the Clippers trailing, 100-99.
He then fouled Danny Green, who made one of two free throws for a 101-99 Spurs lead with 10.8 seconds left.
The Clippers called a timeout with 10.5 seconds left and put the ball in Paul’s hands again.
He couldn’t deliver, slipping on the court and missing again with 3.9 seconds left.
Parker made one of two free throws with 1.7 seconds left for the final margin.
Paul played with a strained right hip flexor.
Griffin (sprained left knee), Caron Butler (fractured left hand) and Mo Williams (sore right hand) all played.
Then Griffin endured more pain after an elbow from Parker cut his lip on a drive in the second quarter.
Griffin’s top tooth went through his lip, causing him to get four stitches — two on the inside and two on the outside of his lip.
None of that seemed to matter to the Clippers in the fourth and decisive quarter.
They played it up to the end.
Paul made a shot while being fouled that bounced off the top of the backboard.
He made the free throw for a 97-96 Clippers lead with 2:27 left.
But Parker scored twice for a 100-97 Spurs lead with 1:47 left.
The Spurs have won 18 straight games dating back to the regular season, all eight in the playoffs, including sweeps in the first (Utah Jazz) and second rounds (Clippers).
They will meet either the Oklahoma City Thunder or the Los Angeles Lakers in the conference finals.
The Hack-a-D.J. routine began with 1:13 left in the first quarter and the Clippers trailing, 22-19.
Jordan made the second of two free throws.
He was intentionally fouled again with 56.8 seconds left in the first, once again making one of two free throws.
It was one of Jordan’s better performances in the playoffs. He had six points and six rebounds in the first quarter. He also had two fouls.
And still, the Spurs just marched on, opening a 12-point lead before settling into a 51-47 halftime lead.
The Clippers still had no answer on how to slow down the Spurs, who shot 53.8 percent from the field in the first half.
The Clippers did show some life, especially in the third quarter.
Paul was given a technical foul and Butler and Kawhi Leonard were hit with double technical fouls later in the third.
All of that seemed to spark the Clippers.
They opened a 75-74 lead at the end of the third, showing that they weren’t going to give in right away.
Paul was enjoying his best game of the series.
He had 16 points on seven-for-12 shooting, 10 assists and four rebounds through three quarters. Paul had nine points in the third.
Griffin had 19 points through three quarters, 12 in the third.
Duncan was doing the heavy lifting for the Spurs, scoring 17 points and grabbing seven rebounds through the first three quarters.
