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Posted on 04/30/2012 3:03:56 AM PDT by rawhide
Clips coach Vinny Del Negro acknowledged he was "about a minute" away from pulling Paul and other key players in the fourth quarter, "about a minute" away from calling it a night and conceding a Game 1 loss in a hostile environment featuring 18,119 towel-waving fans.
But then Reggie Evans got a layup to cut the lead to 22.
And then Blake Griffin dunked to cut the lead to 20.
And then Paul got a layup (95-77), Eric Bledsoe buried a jumper (95-79) and a 3-pointer (95-82), Griffin got a layup (96-84) and Nick Young hit three consecutive 3-pointers in the span of 60 seconds to cut the Grizzlies lead to 96-93 with 1:47 remaining, and suddenly this building known locally as the Grind House felt more like the WTF House.
The same Grizzlies who had completely dominated the first 40 minutes were on their heels and out of sorts. They spent the final 90 seconds watching Griffin and Paul sandwich free throws around a layup from Evans that helped the Clippers get to 99 points -- one more than Memphis scored thanks to a 13-point fourth quarter.
"I don't think I've been a part of a game like that ever," Griffin said. "It was unbelievable."
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5JYodug31vw&feature=player_embedded
(Excerpt) Read more at cbssports.com ...
One of the all-time, greatest choke jobs by Memphis in history.
I would have to say it was probably the greatest fourth quarter period ever played. They may not be a legendary team to be remembered, but they have all the essentials to stay in a game to the bitter end.
But I don't think either team will get past the first round.
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