Nov. 05--The Clippers didn't just botch a play down the stretch against the Golden State Warriors, they actually forgot it.
Chris Paul, who had made a layup with 13.8 seconds left to bring the Clippers within two points of the Warriors, 110-108, was taken out of the game with 13 seconds left because of a strained right groin.
After Paul was subbed out, the Clippers forgot the play that the coaching staff had called. And with 3.8 seconds remaining and the Warriors up, 112-108, Jamal Crawford shot a three-pointer that Klay Thompson blocked.
"Everybody should know the play, not just the guy with the ball, and we didn't know the play down the stretch," Clippers Coach Doc Rivers said.
As for Paul's injury, Rivers said that taking him out was more of a precautionary measure.
"I don't think it's severe," Rivers said. "It's just too early in the season, so I took him out."
There were 17 lead changes between the two undefeated rivals in Wednesday's game, with the Warriors leading by as much as 17 points in the second quarter, the Clippers leading by as much as 10 points in the fourth.
"We had a lot of game-plan mistakes throughout the game," Rivers said. "That's the difference right now between us and them. Them being together, they execute."
