DALLAS _ For nearly a week, the Clippers played what coach Doc Rivers called "quick, attack, power basketball." They won three games by comfortable margins and spoke of finally being on the right track.
Faced Thursday with a team desperate to extend its season, the Clippers fell apart, losing 97-95 to the middling but eager Dallas Mavericks (31-40).
Their final chance to escape with a victory came at the buzzer, when Chris Paul inbounded to J.J. Redick with 0.9 seconds remaining. Redick had a clean shot at a corner 3-pointer, but the attempt was off.
It was the fitting end to a disjointed effort in the game's final minutes.
Starting with 1:28 remaining in the fourth quarter, the Clippers (43-30) committed three turnovers in four possessions. On the other, Paul shot an airball from the foul line.
Trailing by one in the final seconds, Blake Griffin tried to go up at the basket, but had the ball stripped away, thwarting the Clippers' best chance to escape with a victory.
Wesley Matthews missed a pair of free throws on the other end, setting up the dramatic finish and Redick's off-target jumper.
The Clippers entered the evening hoping to improve to a half-game behind the Utah Jazz for the fourth seed in the Western Conference.
Instead, L.A. will go into its Saturday showdown with the Jazz _ a likely first-round opponent _ 1{ games back and just one game ahead of sixth-place Oklahoma City.
Griffin led the Clippers with 21 points, while DeAndre Jordan had 14 points and 18 rebounds. Paul finished with 15 points, six rebounds and six assists, but also four turnovers _ including the costly pair in the final 88 seconds.
Seth Curry led the Mavs with 23 points.
