INDIANAPOLIS, Feb. 28 (UPI) -- Chris Paul carried Los Angeles to a big fourth-quarter lead Thursday and the Clippers held on to defeat Indiana 99-91.
Los Angeles won for the seventh time in eight games in the first of back-to-back road contests that interrupt a stretch in which the Clippers will play eight out of 11 at home.
Paul scored 29 points to go with six rebounds and eight assists. The Clippers built a 17-point cushion with 7 minutes remaining only to see the Pacers rally to within four with 2:17 to play. Indiana managed just two more points the rest of the way, however, and had a five-game winning streak snapped.
Jamal Crawford produced 23 points for Los Angeles and Blake Griffin added 18 points and 14 rebounds. The Clippers made 35-of-56 shots from inside the arc, but were just 4-of-23 from 3-point range.
David West led Indiana with 22 points with Paul George contributing 20. Indiana won five straight games beginning with its last contest in January, lost two and then won five more before running into the Clippers. That run of success allowed the Pacers to build a four-game lead over Chicago in the Central Division heading into Thursday's action.
