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Clippers defeat Mavericks on last-second shot, 91-89

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Clippers 91, Mavericks 89 (final)

They call him Mr. Big Shot.

Chauncey Billups has made clutch shots over the years to add credibility to that moniker.

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On Thursday night in front of 19,252 at Staples Center, the Clippers guard reminded those that as the years pass, he’s still the same old guy with cold blood in his veins in the final minutes.

Billups made a go-ahead three-point shot with one second left in the fourth quarter to give the Clippers a 91-89 win against Dallas, improving the Clippers to 8-4.

The Mavericks tried a lob play to Ian Mahinmi as time expired, but it didn’t work out.

Here’s how it went down in the final minutes:

Jason Terry made a three-point basket with 36.7 seconds left to pull the Mavericks to within three points.

After a timeout, Billups missed a short jumper, but DeAndre Jordan and Dirk Nowitzki fought for the rebound and the officials deemed it a a jump ball with 20 seconds left.

Jordan tipped the ball to Billups, but there was a scuffle for the ball and it went out of bounds

After a review, the officials said the ball was last touched by the Clippers, meaning Dallas had possession with 14.9 seconds left.

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Terry made another three-point basket with five seconds left to put Dallas ahead, 89-88.

Then, Billups did what he has done so often.

Mo Williams of the Clippers had a game-high 26 points, making 11 of 15 shots. Blake Griffin had 14 points and 17 rebounds. Jordan had 19 points, nine rebounds and five blocks.

Dallas had five players score in double figures, with Delonte West and Nowitzki each scoring 17 points.

The Clippers play host to Minnesota on Friday.

Clippers 71, Mavericks 71 (end of third quarter)

This game, at times, looks like the fabled race between the tortoise and the hare.

The Clippers are the hare, fast and young.

The Mavericks, by comparison, are the tortoise, slow and old.

But each time the Clippers seem to race ahead (their biggest lead is nine points), the veteran Mavericks slowly but surely come back and make it a close game (their biggest lead is one point).

The kid Clippers started to pull away from Dallas on the fastbreak.

Griffin’s dunk on a run-out put the Clippers ahead, 66-57, with 5:37 left in the quarter.

But the Mavericks chisled that lead to nothing behind Terry, Jason Kidd and Shawn Marion, who combined to score 15 points in the quarter.

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Jordan and Griffin are controlling the paint for the Clippers. Griffin has 10 points and 12 rebounds, and Jordan has 17 points, nine rebounds and four blocks.

This hasn’t been Nowitzki’s night. He was given a technical foul after arguing with the officials early in the quarter. He has only 10 points.

It’s the Clippers’ eighth sellout of the season.

Clippers 52, Mavericks 51 (halftime)

We start with Williams because he still hasn’t missed a shot.

He has made all seven of his shots, including two from beyond the three-point arc, and has a game-high 18 points.

Behind him, the Clippers are ahead. They also owe some thanks to Reggie Evans, whose aggressive play is getting under the skin of Nowitzki and is a big reason why Nowitzki has only 10 points.

Griffin has been quiet, with six points and seven rebounds. Jordan has had an impressive first half on the defensive end, with 10 points, eight rebounds and four blocks.

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And West has continued his strong play for Dallas. He has 17 points, a team-high for the Mavericks.

Clippers 31, Mavericks (end of first quarter)

With Chris Paul (hamstring) still out, Williams stepped up big time, coming off the bench to make all five of his shots that helped give the Clippers a first-quarter lead.

Billups was also hot, hitting four of his first five shots, including two three-point tries.

But Dallas point guard West, an off-season acquisition, had a hot first quarter as well, scoring a game-high 12 points on four-for-seven shooting from the field.

The Clippers don’t look as if they’re playing their third game in three nights. They made 56% of their shots and have run the floor well.

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Dallas looks a tad old, but not too bad. Nowitzki has only five points so far.

Oh, and we’re not going to mention that Kim Kardashian and Lamar Odom’s wife, Khloe, are sitting courtside.

Oops.

ALSO:

Clippers’ Chris Paul sits out again

Lakers face quick and difficult trip to Florida

Frank McCourt might keep Dodger Stadium parking lots

-- Baxter Holmes

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