Paul Scores 22, Leads LA Clippers Past Miami, 100-93

Paul missed his first his nine shots and was only 2 of 13 from the field in the first half. Shortly thereafter, Heat forward Justise Winslow air-balled a corner 3-pointer, as the Clippers defense intentionally backed off by several feet.

Whiteside has totaled 33 points, 27 rebounds and five blocks during his last two meetings with the Clippers.

“I just kept shooting it”, Paul told ABC’s Heather Cox.

Paul got help from guard Jamal Crawford, who had 20 points off the bench.

Jamal Crawford’s three-pointer wrapped up their 11th win in the last 13 road games.

The Clippers needed to bounce back after having their four-game win streak snapped by the Timberwolves on Wednesday and they did that with a 107-93 win at Orlando on Friday.

“It’s really nice of the National Basketball Association to have us play today and then travel during the Super Bowl”, Doc Rivers said. “I didn’t think we were going to make it because of all the ‘Hack a DJ (Jordan).’ I’m glad we get to see (the Super Bowl)”.

The second-year guard had played a major role for the Miami Heat this season as the primary point guard off the bench.

Chris Bosh, Dwyane Wade and Goran Dragic all scored 17 points for the Heat, who slipped 1-1/2 games behind Boston in the battle for fourth in the East.

The problem for the Heat was Bosh closed the third period at 1 of 11 from the field, with Wade 5 of 17 to that stage. “That’s what they did to us, then made the bigger plays down the stretch”.

“DeAndre has the ability to switch out on guards. That’s our motto; ‘A physical Miami Heat team, ‘” said Whiteside, whose average of 4.0 blocks is ahead of the 3.9 franchise record set by Alonzo Mourning in 1998-99. Whiteside made 4-of-6 on free throws.

Overall, the Clippers have won 17 of their past 21 games, all without star forward Blake Griffin.

Paul also threw a lob to DeAndre Jordan for a ferocious dunk before finishing the game with 22 points and seven assists.

Thanks to their second unit finally breaking through, snapping an 8-plus minute stretch without a bucket, the Clippers survived the first quarter down just four. Los Angeles missed 14 of its first 15 shots and shot 45.7 percent for the game.

“We had struggles of our own”, Wade said when asked why Miami didn’t extend its lead further. “Even though they were missing shots, they didn’t let us go up 30-8”.

The Clippers reserves outscored their Heat counterparts, 46-25, keeping things close in the first half after the Clippers starters combined to miss 14 of their first 15 shots.