Clippers Continue Mastery of Heat At Home With 95-89 Overtime Win

The Los Angeles Clippers couldn’t sink a basket during the final four minutes of regulation. The Miami Heat could barely make any free throws. Two tired teams were coming off road losses the night before, staggered themselves into overtime.

Then the Clippers just took over.

They outscored Miami 9-3 in the extra session which earned the team the biggest win of their young season, 95-89 Wednesday night.

“It’s good to get a win and get it by grinding out the win,” said Blake Griffin, who scored 20 points and had 12 rebounds.

Their next test is against one of the league’s power teams comes on Saturday against the Lakers.

Chris Paul scored 27 points, 11 assists and one turnover in almost 45 minutes, Caron Butler added 20 more points, and Chauncey Billups had 12 points for the Clippers, 9-2 against Miami at home since 2001-02. DeAndre Jordan had 11 rebounds and blocked six shots to set the tone defensively.

LeBron James had 13 rebounds and 23 points for the 200th double-double of his career, Mario Chalmers added 18 points, for the Heat, Dwyane Wade scored 17 and Chris Bosh had 16 points and 11 rebounds, and have lost their last four games against the Clippers at the Staples Center.

The Heat were coming off a loss in overtime to Golden State, while the Clippers lost at Portland a night earlier.

In overtime, Bosh, James and Wade missed on a combined seven shots. Miami’s Big Three struggled as well, in the fourth quarter, combining to go 3 for 8.

The Heat were 20 of 34 from the line, with James accounting for eight of the Heat’s 14 misses.

The Clippers’ shooting almost let them down in the final 4 minutes of regulation when they missed on seven straight possessions, but were bailed out due to Miami’s own problems.

The Clippers were leading by two with 27 seconds left in regulation before James tied it at 86 on a free throw. LA called their final timeout while Paul dribbled around with James nipping at his heels before putting up a shot that missed just as time expired, which forced the Heat to the third overtime of their trip.

As the Clippers were trailing 84-83, Billups was fouled by James on a 3-pointer with 27 seconds left in regulation and made all three of their free throws. The Clippers finished the game 17 of 23 from the line.

Neither team led by more than three points in a very physical fourth quarter that featured Wade knocking Paul to the boards and Norris Cole and Mo Williams colliding.

********************************************************************

CRWEnewswire is not liable for the contents of this news, as well as not being liable for any errors or delays in the content, or for any actions taken in reliance thereon. The Views and Opinions Expressed by the author are his or her opinions only and do not necessarily reflect those of this Web-Site or its agents, affiliates, officers, directors, staff, or contractors. The author at the time of this article did not own any shares or receive any consideration financial or otherwise from any company or person mentioned or referred to in the article.