No Chris Paul, no problem for the Los Angeles Clippers. Okay, that is a gross exaggeration, but the Clippers came through without their point guard to beat the Dallas Mavericks 91-89 at Staples Center on Wednesday night, thanks to a three-pointer from Chauncey Billups with one second remaining. The win was the seventh consecutive home victory for the Clippers, who made it through their first back-to-back-to-back set of the season winning two of three contests.
Billups tied his season high with 21 points and set a new season high with eight rebounds on the night. The win snapped a 10-game losing streak for the Clippers against the Mavericks. The streak nearly hit 11, as the Clippers blew a five-point lead with 1:29 remaining, thanks to a pair of three-pointers from Jason Terry and a controversial non-foul call that resulted in a Clippers turnover in the final minute. There were four different plays that went to video review in the final minute of play.
More: Post game analysis of Clippers win vs. Mavericks
Mo Williams scored 18 of his season-high 26 points in the first half, a fine welcome back after three games missed with a sore right foot. He made 11 of 15 shots from the field, including 7-for-7 in the first half. Blake Griffin had a tough night shooting, making just six of 15 from the field and two of 10 from the free throw line, but he collected his seventh consecutive double-double with 14 points and a season-high 17 rebounds to go along with his seven assists.
DeAndre Jordan scored a season-high 19 points and had nine rebounds for the Clippers, who shot 42.5% from the field for the game. Both teams struggled shooting in the second half, with the Clippers shooting at a 37.0% clip and the Mavericks shooting 42.4% in the final two quarters. The Clippers outrebounded Dallas 47-42.
Dirk Nowitzki scored 17 points for the Mavericks, who lost two straight games after coming to town on a five-game winning streak. Delonte West also scored 17 points for Dallas, but none in the second half. It was a tough time in Los Angeles for the Mavericks, who combined for just 159 points in two games against the Clippers and Los Angeles Lakers over the last three days, and lost on last second three-pointers in both games.
Paul has missed the last three games for the Clippers with a strained left hamstring, but they hope to have him back Friday night against the Minnesota Timberwolves.
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