Chris Paul had 34 points and seven assists, Blake Griffin added 20 points and 19 rebounds, and the Los Angeles Clippers beat the San Antonio Spurs 114-105 on Sunday to even their first-round series at two games apiece.
J.J. Redick scored 17 points for the Clippers and Austin Rivers provided an unexpected boost off the bench with a postseason career-high 16 points.
The Clippers, who bounced back from a 100-73 loss in Game 3, host Game 5 on Tuesday. This is the only series that is tied after four games.
Kawhi Leonard scored 26 points, Tim Duncan had 22 points and 10 rebounds and Tony Parker added 18 points, but Paul proved too much.
Paul hit jumpers over Parker and Duncan in scoring six straight points for the Clippers beginning midway through the fourth quarter. He then drove the lane and kicked out to Redick, who drained a 3-pointer for a 106-92 lead.
Leonard followed with consecutive 3s to pull within 106-98, but Paul settled the Clippers with a pair of free throws.
The game grew tense in the opening minutes as Parker hit the floor on a drive and screamed for a foul on Paul, yelling, "I'm bleeding! I'm bleeding!" and pointing to a cut along his left eyebrow. Parker and San Antonio coach Gregg Popovich's tirades led Paul to scream for a technical that wasn't called.
"It's the champs, so no tech," Paul said.
GIF: Matt BArnes caught Tony Parker with an elbow, Parker was bleeding pic.twitter.com/balD8kRF04
— The Cauldron (@TheCauldron) April 26, 2015
Paul charged into Duncan off an inbounds two possessions later, drawing a blocking foul on the Spurs veteran. Both players stared angrily at each other, with Duncan rising and telling an official, "He kicked me! He kicked me!" after the foul.
The exchanges energized the lethargic Spurs, especially Parker, who keyed a run. Parker, who was limited to 17 points on 7-for-28 shooting in the first three games, had eight points in the opening 8 minutes.
Paul didn't need any added incentive, pushing his way into the chest of every defender the Spurs threw at him large or small to clear space for drives and mid-range jumpers.
The Spurs never trailed in Game 3, but DeAndre Jordan staked the Clippers to a 6-0 lead Sunday. He blocked the game's initial shot, a 13-foot jumper by Leonard near its apex and scored the Clippers first points on an alley-oop dunk. Jordan later set a jarring pick that dropped Leonard to the court and freed Redick for a layup to close the early run.
Jordan finished with six points, 14 rebounds and four blocked shots.
GIF: Heck of a play by Chris Paul to get this floater to go over 3 Spurs pic.twitter.com/o1Rg0FgMpX
— The Cauldron (@TheCauldron) April 26, 2015
TIP-INS
Clippers: The Clippers are 8-3 all-time in Game 4 of a best-of-seven series, but have never won a series after losing Game 3 when the series is tied 1-1. ... Jordan has 10 postseason games with at least 14 rebounds.
Spurs: Duncan became the first player in league history to play 9,000 minutes in the postseason. He also played in his 238th career postseason game, breaking a tie with Kevin Garnett for third all-time.
