Chris Paul credits Austin Rivers for Clippers’ Game 4 win

Chris Paul gave credit to Austin Rivers for the Clippers’ 114-105 road win over the San Antonio Spurs in Game 4 of their playoff series Sunday.

“Game ball goes to Austin Rivers,” Paul said in an interview with ABC after the Game 4 win in San Antonio. “This is his first playoffs. What he did out there, it really just motivated our team. It’s a hell of a game by Austin.”

Rivers, who has been the target of criticism for most of his pro career, scored 16 points on 7-for-8 shooting in 17 minutes off the bench. His big game came at a time when the Clippers were being picked apart for having a thin bench. Rivers gets criticized as a result because his dad, who is the team’s coach and GM, traded for him instead of adding another big during the season.

Though Rivers scored 11 points in a Game 3 loss Friday, he wasn’t much of a factor the two previous games.

For one day, all seemed right with the team’s bench, and that was mostly thanks to Rivers’ effort.

Photo: Austin Rivers/Instagram