Clippers Eliminate Memphis, 82-72
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Los Angeles Clippers/NBA(MEMPHIS, Tenn.) — The Los Angeles Clippers are moving onto a date with the San Antonio Spurs on Tuesday night in the second round of the NBA playoffs.
Los Angeles got 41 points off the bench in their 82-72 victory over Memphis, to send them packing. Chris Paul led the way with 19 points for the Clippers and a banged up Blake Griffin did all he could with eight of his own.
But it was Kenyon Martin who provided seven of his 11 points in the fourth quarter along with big defensive stops that was the key to a Game 7 victory.
“That’s why it’s seven games,” Martin said. “If you don’t do it before, you get another chance. So they did what they had to do, they came and stole home court back on our floor. … We had a chance to close it out. We knew we let it go, an opportunity get away.”
The win gave the Clippers their third postseason series win in 41 years and their second since relocating to Los Angeles.
“I want the guys to enjoy this, and then we’ll regroup tomorrow and focus in on that,” Clippers coach Vinny Del Negro said. “But obviously another big challenge for us.”
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