Austin Rivers played so well for the Los Angeles Clippers in Game 4 against the San Antonio Spurs that Chris Paul credited him with the team’s victory. On Tuesday night, not so much.
Rivers scored just two points in 12 minutes off the bench in Game 5, but it was what he didn’t do that was costly for the Clippers. With just seconds remaining and LA trailing by two, Rivers neglected to box out free throw shooter Danny Green.
Green was able to keep the rebound alive despite Chris Paul racing in and grabbing him by the arm. After Green tipped the ball, Kawhi Leonard secured the offensive rebound and the game was essentially over.
If Rivers did his job and boxed out Green, there’s a chance the Clippers could have secured the rebound with four seconds left and a chance to tie. The likelihood of them converting was not great, but Rivers’ lack of effort didn’t help.
Between the basket interference call on DeAndre Jordan and this technical foul against Chris Paul, there was plenty of controversy down the stretch.
H/T David Locke
