Paul waxes hot as Clippers rally past Heat in overtime
Los Angeles — Chris Paul had 27 points and 11 assists as the Los Angeles Clippers rallied to beat Miami, 95-89 in overtime Wednesday, dealing the Heat a second straight extra-time loss.
Blake Griffin had 20 points and 12 rebounds, Caron Butler added 20 points, and Chauncey Billups had 12 for the Clippers, 9-2 against Miami at home since 2001-02. DeAndre Jordan had 11 rebounds.
The Clippers outscored the Heat 9-3 in the extra session. Miami coach Erik Spoelstra got ejected after a technical foul with five seconds left.
The Clippers led by two with 27 seconds left in regulation before LeBron James tied it 86-86 on a free throw.
The Clippers called their final time-out and Paul dribbled around with James hounding him before putting up a shot that missed as time expired, forcing the Heat to the third overtime of their trip.
James had 23 points and 13 rebounds for the 200th double-double of his career, Mario Chalmers added 18 points, Dwyane Wade 17 and Chris Bosh had 16 points and 11 rebounds for the Heat, who lost at Golden State in OT a night earlier.
Lakers 90,
Jazz 87, OT
At Salt Lake City, Kobe Bryant scored 40 points and Andrew Bynum blocked Al Jefferson’s shot with 1.9 seconds left in overtime to lift Los Angeles past Utah.
Paul Millsap’s tip-in tied it at 78-78 with 21 seconds left in regulation, then Bryant missed a shot at the buzzer that would have won it in regulation for Los Angeles.
Millsap led Utah with 29 points.
MAVERICKS 90, CELTICS 85
At Boston, Dirk Nowitzki scored 16 points, driving past Kevin Garnett for the go-ahead layup with 5.1 seconds left in Dallas’ victory over Boston.
Dallas led most of the game, but Paul Pierce hit a 3-pointer — just his second basket of the night — to tie it at 85 with 25 seconds to play. Former Celtic Delonte West dribbled the clock down to about 10 seconds before giving it to Nowitzki. The NBA finals MVP cut to the basket past Garnett and picked up a foul from Brandon Bass while floating the ball into the basket.
Rajon Rondo scored 24 points for Boston and Garnett had 16 points with 10 rebounds.
BULLS 78,
WIZARDS 64
At Chicago, John Lucas III scored a career-high 25 points filling in for injured Derrick Rose as Chicago beat Washington for its third victory in three nights.
Lucas, starting for the first time in his 70-game NBA career, was at the point in place of MVP Rose, who was out with a sprained big left toe. Kyle Korver added 14 points, and Luol Deng had 12 points and 15 rebounds.
The Bulls are tied for NBA lead with Oklahoma City at 10-2.
Jordan Crawford had 14 points for Washington.
Thunder 95,
Hornets 85
At New Orleans, Kevin Durant had 29 points and 10 rebounds in Oklahoma City’s win over New Orleans.
Durant hit 11 of his last 14 shots after missing his first three. He took over in the third quarter, scoring 11 points in the first 8 minutes to help the Thunder extend a two-point halftime lead to 12 points. The Hornets pulled within four early in the fourth, but never threatened after that. OTHER RESULTS: Knicks 85, 76ers 79;Spurs 101, Rockets 95, OT;Pacers 96, Hawks 84; Kings 98, Raptors 91; Nuggets 123, Nets 115. AP
