Defending champions the San Antonio Spurs have been knocked out of the NBA playoffs after a last-gasp shot from Chris Paul gave the Los Angeles Clippers a 111-109 win in the deciding game of their first-round series.
Paul sustained an injury which forced him out of the majority of the first half, but the guard returned before the break to help leave the home side just ahead at the interval.
The Clippers were five points back with five minutes to go in the fourth quarter, but Blake Griffin added a couple of free throws before a three-pointer from JJ Redick tied it up.
The lead changed hands several times in the final minutes as both sides battled to remain in the playoffs, with a couple of free throws from Paul being cancelled out by Tim Duncan with less than nine seconds remaining.
Paul quickly charged back down the other end, though, beating Duncan and Danny Green with a one-handed shot at the buzzer to clinch the series win for the home side.
The win sets up a Western Conference semi-finals series with the Houston Rockets for the Clippers.
Sian Cowper
