The Los Angeles Clippers have beaten the San Antonio Spurs 114-105 to tie their series at 2-2 in the quarter-finals of the Western Conference playoffs.
The game started out as an even contest as the teams matched one another score for score in the first quarter, with the Spurs' Kawhi Leonard and the Clippers' DeAndre Jordan coming out on top form.
The second quarter followed the same pattern as both sides cancelled each other with excellent play on offense until Chris Paul started to pull the Clippers narrowly in front with a jumping two-pointer and sublime 25-foot three-pointer.
Los Angeles held a 51-47 lead at the,start of the third, but Tim Duncan did his utmost to bring the Spurs back to parity as he made a series of two-pointers to haul the home side within a point, only for Blake Griffin to respond and restore his side's advantage.
The third quarter turned again as Leonard found his rhythm to edge Gregg Popovich's men ahead with under three minutes remaining, but Paul made six free throws on the spin to put the Clippers in front once again.
Paul was pivotal in the fourth quarter as he made several shots to guide his team away from the Spurs, who were unable to rally again despite the best efforts of Duncan and Leonard as they fell to defeat.
The teams face off again on Tuesday at the Staples Center.
Simon Sinclair
