Los Angeles Clippers forward Matt Barnes has praised his side's mental toughness this campaign as they beat the Houston Rockets 118-107 away from home on Saturday night.
The Clippers were thankful for the standout performance of Chris Paul, who notched 30 points, 12 assists and three steals to lead his side to victory at the Toyota Center.
"[Our mental fortitude] is big. I think it's what we lacked last year," Barnes told reporters after the game.
"I think it's a big sign of maturity. It comes from more experience. We knew last year that was our weakness; we were mentally weak.
"I think collective focus on being mentally tough has got us a long way this year."
The result sees the Clippers sitting in first position in the Pacific Division with a record of 55-22 for the season.
