Allgemein » Paul had eight points and 15 assists

INDIANAPOLIS - Doc Rivers believes the Los Angeles Clippers have all the components to make a title run.They can score from inside or outside and they can rebound. The missing piece is consistent defence — and that nearly cost them on Wednesday night.The Clippers blew a 15-point, first-half lead and nearly gave away a 20-point lead in the final 14 minutes before hanging on for their ninth straight win — 103-96 over the struggling Indiana Pacers.Defend. Thats how we fix it, Coach Rivers said when asked to explain what happened. Thats not that hard. They can do it and theyve done it. So, theyve shown they can do it, and they will do it.Los Angeles (16-5) won in typical fashion.Jamal Crawford scored 18 points, including a critical 20-foot, off-balance jumper with 1:50 to go that made it a two-possession game.Blake Griffin had 17 points, including a key free throw during the final stretch, and added 10 rebounds and five assists. DeAndre Jordan finished with 12 points and a season high 19 rebounds, and Chris Paul had eight points and 15 assists — one short of the season high he established Saturday.But the short-handed Pacers (7-15) simply refused to let the Clippers pull away. C.J. Miles scored a season high 30 points, Lavoy Allen had 14 points and 13 rebounds, and Luis Scola had 12 points and 14 rebounds.It wasnt quite enough to pull of the comeback.While Rivers challenged his backups to protect leads better, Pacers coach Frank Vogel was contemplating how to get more out of his starters and possible lineup changes.Somethings got to change for us to get off to better starts, Vogel said. That group is struggling. Its not clicking.The discrepancy was so clear-cut Wednesday that Vogel didnt even bother putting his starters in for the stretch run.After the backups helped Indiana rally from a 15-point first-quarter deficit to take a 45-44 lead, the starters got outscored 10-4 in the final minutes of the first half.Roy Hibberts 19-foot jumper to start the second half cut the deficit to 54-51, but the Clippers answered with a 16-5 run to take a 14-point lead. Jordan Farmars 3-pointer with 1:52 left in the third quarter made it 82-62.But the Pacers second unit started the fourth quarter on a 12-4 spurt, closed to within five, fell behind 95-87 with 3:42 to play and then made one more rally. Scolas layup with 3:09 got the Pacers within three, and Allens 20-foot jumper with 2:00 to go made it 98-96.Crawford then answered with the jumper, and the Pacers never scored again.The key was that we didnt get rattled, Paul said. We dont want to lose leads of 15 or 20 points, but in an 82-game season, its going to happen. The important thing is we still got the win.TIP-INSClippers: Los Angeles came in leading the NBA in 3-point shooting at 38.5 per cent. However, they were just 4 of 15 from beyond the arc at halftime and finished 7 of 24 (29.2 per cent) for the game.Pacers: Whats wrong with the Pacers? Donald Sloan, once the starting point guard, didnt play against the Clippers. Hibbert and power forward David West, who recently returned from injuries, were ineffective. And the Pacers still dont have starting guard George Hill back from a knee injury.UP NEXTIndiana visits Toronto on Friday.Los Angeles visits Washington on Friday.SLOW STARTS: Indiana has been one of the NBAs worst first-quarter teams this season. On Wednesday, the Pacers had two slow starts — one in each half. Indiana was outscored 19-7 in the first 5:12 of the game and 16-7 over the first 5:03 of the third quarter.STYLE POINTS: The key to the Clippers is scoring 100 points. They are now 15-1 when scoring at least 100, and just 1-4 when they do not. china jerseys . -- Its been 21 years since Joe Gibbs Racing celebrated its only Daytona 500 victory. wholesale jerseys china . The Cubs made the moves before Thursdays game against Arizona. They promoted left-hander Zac Rosscup and right-hander Neil Ramirez from Triple-A Iowa and optioned righty Blake Parker to their top minor league team. https://www.chinajerseysreplica.us/ . After deputy commissioner Bill Daly said the league would consider pulling out of Sochi if something "significant" happens before players arrive, those set to participate are trying not to worry about that scenario. cheap jerseys from china . -- Its been 21 years since Joe Gibbs Racing celebrated its only Daytona 500 victory. fake jerseys china . Parnell will be out much longer if it turns out he needs surgery. But first, he will try resting for two weeks before beginning a throwing program that could last up to a month, general manager Sandy Alderson said.As well, a long list of professional athletes and Olympians were on hand to kick off the Games and celebrate the achievements of Special Olympics athletes from across the country. Heres a roundup of the reaction we saw on Twitter. Honour to walk out with the Team BC @sobcsociety flag bearer at tonights Special Olympics opening ceremonies! pic.twitter.com/GHJt7we1kc — Travis Lulay (@TravisLulay) July 9, 2014 Biggest cheer for Team BC. With BC Lion @travislulay. Great job by @SOBCsociety for organizing fun for athletes pic.twitter.com/SC9TBCbdCH — Jim Chu (@ChiefJimChu) July 9, 2014 Honored 2 meet Dr. Hayden, one of the visionaries for #SpecialOCanada @marktewks #Van2014 @SpecialOCanada pic.twitter.com/jtuRiEI3VY — Jamie Sale (@JamieSale) July 9, 2014 Walking in the opening ceremonies w my new bud Chris Sutter ???? @SpecialOCanada @SpecialOAlberta @Vancouver2014 pic.twitter.com/Ul6GZAgCW4 — Jamie Sale (@JamieSale) July 9, 2014 Now thats a big flag!!! @SpecialOCanada pic.twitter.com/7rLzDzKv3D — Brent Hayden (@BHayden2012) July 9, 2014 Special Olympics opening ceremonies with the mayor of #Vancouver @MayorGregor @Vancouver2014 @sobcsociety @BCLions pic.twitter.com/jaCP7fKUDZ — Marco Iannuzzi (@iannuzzimarco) July 9, 2014 #BCLions @GM_Brillo leading team Alberta for the @sobcsociety opening ceremonies! pic.twitter.com/O9fVNj24lE — Christie Buono (@ChristieBuono) July 9, 2014 With my team!! Special Olympics 2014. pic.twitter..ddddddddddddcom/4ANDXdrsMN — Angus Reid (@angusreid64) July 9, 2014 What a night! Celebrating the @SpecialOCanada Summer Games w/ @BoHorvat @marktewks & hundreds of Special O athletes! pic.twitter.com/IYkwEe1o9m — Canucks For Kids (@Canucksforkids) July 9, 2014 So exciting to march in with Team Quebec. #Vancouver2014 @SpecialOCanada pic.twitter.com/XGfaXr0ABb — Mark Tewksbury (@marktewks) July 9, 2014 Probably the only time @Bighill44 will enjoy being in the middle of a sea of green lol. @sobcsociety pic.twitter.com/iMOgEAd10M — Christie Buono (@ChristieBuono) July 9, 2014 With @BHayden2012 Getting ready for Opening Ceremonies #Vancouver2014 @SpecialOCanada pic.twitter.com/Z31cJs3z1C — Mark Tewksbury (@marktewks) July 9, 2014 Look who I found at @Vancouver2014 opening ceremonies. Best dancer in the house! #Clearly #Vancouver2014 pic.twitter.com/NVCzQtwVhs — Willie Mitchell (@Willie_Mitch33) July 9, 2014 Sending a warm welcome to all of the @vancouver2014 Special Olympic Summer Games athletes! pic.twitter.com/4hDw1GPPJp — Vancouver Whitecaps (@WhitecapsFC) July 9, 2014 Amazing experience marching in the special Olympics opening ceremony in Vancouver with @BoHorvat pic.twitter.com/Und8As78Zu — Hunter Shinkaruk (@H_S_9) July 9, 2014 Walking into the @SpecialOCanada opening ceremonies with Team Ontario and @Jgardiner272! pic.twitter.com/q86dUBGs7P — Brent Hayden (@BHayden2012) July 9, 2014 ' ' '