The Jazz advanced to face top-seeded Golden State in the Western Conference semifinals. He filled a void left by Jazz center Rudy Gobert, who also was plagued by fouls.
"Listen, they beat us", Clippers coach Doc Rivers said when asked if the absence of Blake Griffin, who injured a big toe in Game 3 and was done for the postseason, was a factor.
Utah went on to take a 3-2 lead in the series, but Paul was unstoppable in Game 6, when he willed the Clippers to a 98-93 win to force a Game 7 at home. Put anyone in that situation - the Warriors' past three seasons is the winningest stretch ever in National Basketball Association history - and they might struggle to do the same.
However, the Rockets outscored them, 40-15, in the fourth quarter behind heroic efforts from Corey Brewer and Josh Smith, who combined for 29 points in the final period of the game.
Unfortunately for the Clippers, they would win just one more game - Game 4 at home.
As he shouldered the scoring load for much of the series, Paul accepted blame for the Clippers falling short.
"I didn't know if we'd ever score and I didn't know if they'd ever stop scoring", Celtics coach Brad Stevens said.
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Pierce will finish his career with averages of 19.7 points, 5.6 rebounds, and 3.5 assists per game.
"I'm thinking about the loss today instead of the summer", Rivers said after Game 7. After Game 1, each game will come with just a day in between throughout the series. Utah's bench accounted for 38 points: 17 by Favors to go with 11 by Rodney Hood and 10 from Joe Johnson. He missed the last two games of the first round because of complications from two back surgeries.
During the telecast of Game 6, broadcasters Ralph Lawler and Michael Smith both dismissed the notion of Griffin and Paul departing as free agents, saying they just couldn't see it happening. "They've got enough money to pay for a jet to go and then come back on game days if they want the entertainment".
"I got in at 4 a.m.", Thomas said of his second flight to Washington in two weeks. As good as Chris Paul is (I consider him the best pure point guard in the league), does he have anything left in the tank, and does he have playoff ability. Paul Pierce, 39, has announced his plans on retiring at the end of the season so every game he plays could be his last, which definitely adds another element of drama.
Instead, they will be taking on the Jazz in Round 2, and they are not happy they will have to spend their nights out in Salt Lake City, rather than Los Angeles. The Clippers held Johnson to 3-for-9 shooting. His backcourt partner, JJ Redick, hounded into oblivion by Utah's long wings, managed just 3 points in 22 minutes.
The Celtics take a 1-0 series lead.
By the end of the third, the Jazz led 79-63.
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