Clippers

Eighteen wins in a row, and eight more victories to go. That says it all about how the San Antonio Spurs are steamrolling through these playoffs at a pace that is flirting with NBA history, even if they are saying as little about it as possible. "We don't have any secret. We don't even think about it," Spurs guard Tony Parker said. There's plenty for everyone else to mull. Like whether these Spurs — some 13 years after winning their first of four championships — actually might be the best version yet. Game 1 of their first Western Conference finals since 2008 will be...

Eighteen wins in a row, and eight more victories to go. That says it all about how the San Antonio Spurs are steamrolling through these playoffs at a pace that is flirting with NBA history, even if they are saying as little about it as possible. "We don't have any secret. We don't even think about it," Spurs guard Tony Parker said. There's plenty for everyone else to mull. Like whether these Spurs — some 13 years after winning their first of four championships — actually might be the best version yet. Game 1 of their first Western Conference finals since 2008 will be...

At game's end, two priests waited in the corridor outside the Celtics' locker room. Both were guests of the Heinsohns. One had just watched his first NBA game. When asked what he thought of the home team, the priest bowed his head and said, "We begin to pray. " It has reached the point where divine intervention might be necessary for the Celtics, even with the Hawks in town tomorrow night. There was very little redeeming value in the Celtics' 95-86 loss to the Clippers last night at the FleetCenter.

Tim Duncan scored 21 points and Tony Parker added 17 as the San Antonio Spurs rallied in the final minutes to beat the Clippers, 102-99, on Sunday night in Los Angeles, closing out the series in four games to advance to the Western Conference finals. The Spurs extended their winning streak to 18 games and their playoff record to 8-0, tying the third-best postseason streak in franchise history. Chris Paul had 23 points and 11 assists, Blake Griffin added 21 points, and Eric Bledsoe had 17 for the Clippers, who blew a 6-point lead in the fourth quarter.

Tim Duncan scored 21 points and Tony Parker added 17 as the San Antonio Spurs rallied in the final minutes to beat the Clippers, 102-99, on Sunday night in Los Angeles, closing out the series in four games to advance to the Western Conference finals. The Spurs extended their winning streak to 18 games and their playoff record to 8-0, tying the third-best postseason streak in franchise history. Chris Paul had 23 points and 11 assists, Blake Griffin added 21 points, and Eric Bledsoe had 17 for the Clippers, who blew a 6-point lead in the fourth quarter.

LOS ANGELES -- The Celtics knew exactly what they were missing last night at Staples Center. But in case anyone forgot, the Celtics received a painful reminder as Paul Pierce watched their 100-77 loss to the Clippers from the bench with his injured left foot still covered by a protective boot. It had to be tough for Pierce to watch Boston shoot 32 percent and drop its fourth straight game, all without him. And judging from what transpired last night, Boston may not be able to win at all without its captain.

BOSTON (94) Bass 5-6 0-0 10, Pierce 7-16 8-10 25, Garnett 8-16 5-5 21, Rondo 4-8 4-4 12, Allen 5-12 3-4 15, Stiemsma 1-1 0-0 2, Bradley 2-3 2-2 6, Pietrus 1-5 1-2 3, Pavlovic 0-0 0-0 0, Dooling 0-0 0-0 0. Totals 33-67 23-27 94. L.A. CLIPPERS (85) Butler 3-13 1-2 7, Griffin 9-15 6-8 24, Jordan 3-10 0-0 6, Paul 3-12 7-7 14, Foye 1-4 0-0 3, Evans 2-3 0-0 4, Simmons 2-5 0-0 6, Williams 8-18 4-4 21, Bledsoe 0-0 0-0 0, Martin 0-3 0-0 0. Totals 31-83 18-21 85. Boston 25 14 23 32—94 L.A. Clippers 21 27 13 24—85 3-Point Goals—Boston 5-13 (Pierce 3-7, Allen 2-3, Pietrus 0-3)

Elton Brand had a season-high 30 points and and Bobby Simmons scored 9 of his 17 points in the fourth quarter as the Clippers beat the Cleveland Cavaliers, 94-82, in Los Angeles last night to complete the second-best November in franchise history. By winning their fourth straight game, the Clippers (9-6) have their best November record since the 1974-75 team, playing in Buffalo, went 12-4. The only other times the Clippers have had a winning record in November were in 1977 (8-6)

LOS ANGELES -- Elton Brand and the Clippers became the second team from Los Angeles to take the Phoenix Suns to the limit in these playoffs. Unlike the Lakers, the Clippers will take some momentum into Game 7. Brand had 30 points and 12 rebounds, Corey Maggette came off the bench to score 13 of his 25 points in the fourth quarter, and the Clippers beat the Suns, 118-106, last night to even the Western Conference semifinal series at three...

LOS ANGELES — Two teams that hardly could be described as rivals went at each other's throats all Monday night at Staples Center, and the Celtics easily could have rolled over and claimed fatigue when the Clippers went on a furious fourth-quarter run for a 4-point lead late in the game. Perhaps showing co-owner Wyc Grousbeck and team president Danny Ainge they are capable of making a long playoff run, the Celtics responded with one final haymaker — a 13-2 run that sealed a crucial 94-85 road victory in front of a sellout crowd.

The San Antonio Spurs mowed down another opponent, using their guile under pressure to close out another perfect playoff series. Tim Duncan scored 21 points, Tony Parker added 17 and the Spurs beat the Los Angeles Clippers 102-99 on Sunday night to win their second-round matchup 4-0 and advance to the Western Conference finals. "They played great, they made it tough on us," Parker said. "The last 2 minutes we got the stops we needed. Everybody did something. " The Spurs extended their winning streak to 18 games and their playoff record to 8-0, tying the third-best postseason streak...

The San Antonio Spurs are on to the Western Conference finals, along with their 18-game winning streak and 8-0 mark in the playoffs. They rallied in the closing minutes behind Tim Duncan, Tony Parker and Manu Ginobili to beat the Los Angeles Clippers 102-99 on Sunday night and wrap up the second-round series 4-0. "We needed a game like that. It arrived at the perfect time," Parker said. "We battled. We executed our plays, made big baskets. " Now they wait to find out their next opponent.

Nothing was going to rattle the calm, cool and collected Spurs. Not even a 24-point deficit. Tim Duncan scored 19 points, helping engineer a defining 24-0 run in the third quarter, and San Antonio defeated the Los Angeles Clippers 96-86 on Saturday to take a commanding 3-0 lead in their second-round playoff series. "We didn't plan on being down that much," said Duncan, who at 36 is hungry to win the team's fifth NBA championship and first since 2006-07. "We stuck with it. " Led by Tony Parker's 23 points and his defense on an ailing Chris Paul,...

On his 30th birthday, Tony Parker first kept the San Antonio Spurs on pace for what might be another lopsided playoff sweep. Then the All-Star who's always quick to needle Tim Duncan about his age finally acknowledged his own. "I'm old. Used," said Parker, laughing. Chris Paul, meanwhile, isn't acknowledging anything: Not his aching body that everyone but him is talking about, or the Los Angeles Clippers' season careening toward the end this weekend unless things change fast.

Down 2-0 against the San Antonio Spurs, the Los Angeles Clippers face the tough task of needing two victories at home to keep pace with the NBA's hottest team. Making things worse are injuries to Chris Paul and Blake Griffin that have robbed the superstars of their effectiveness. "The mood is still pretty good," Griffin said Friday after practice and a video session. "We're not completely out of this. " Not yet. Game 3 on Saturday is particularly crucial for the Clippers because no team in NBA history has ever rallied from a 3-0 deficit to win...

LeBron James grabbed a seat on Miami's bench, lowered his head, and stared down at the floor. Way down. The Heat are in a hole. Roy Hibbert had 19 points and 18 rebounds, George Hill scored 20, and Danny Granger 17 as the Pacers, showing more balance, toughness, and togetherness than Miami, throttled the malfunctioning Heat, 94-75, Thursday night in Game 3 of the Eastern Conference semifinals in Indianapolis. Overlooked during the regular season and given little chance to upset the reigning East champions, the Pacers took a 2-1 lead in the best-of-seven...

LOS ANGELES - Blake Griffin scored 20 points, Chris Paul added 18 points and seven assists in his second game back from injury, and the first-place Clippers hung on in the fourth quarter for a 98-91 victory over the Memphis Grizzlies last night. Mo Williams scored 9 of his 18 points in the fourth quarter, and Griffin added nine rebounds and eight assists as the Clippers maintained a narrow lead throughout the final period. Caron Butler scored 17 points, and Paul also had seven rebounds while playing back-to-back games after missing the previous five with a strained left hamstring.

Dorell Wright scored 18 of his 20 points in the first half, Monta Ellis added 19 points and 11 assists, and the Golden State Warriors knocked the Clippers out of first place in the Pacific Division with a 97-93 victory Sunday night in Los Angeles. David Lee had 18 points and 10 rebounds, helping the Warriors beat the Clippers on the road for the fourth straight time despite blowing a 21-point third-quarter lead. The Warriors' Stephen Curry, a game-time decision due to a mildly sprained right ankle, started and played 10 scoreless minutes.

The San Antonio Spurs had just taken Game 1, and Manu Ginobili didn't want to hear another word about winning 15 in a row or not losing in more than a month. "I don't even want to know about that," Ginobili said. On the other side of the AT&T Center, Clippers' All-Star Chris Paul needed no reminder that his wretched performance contributed to the Spurs' 108-92 victory over Los Angeles in the opener of the Western Conference semifinals on Tuesday night. He just needed to deliver the message to his kid. "Good game, Daddy," Paul's young son told this father in the...

Staples Center is always among the world's busiest arenas, hosting a jam-packed slate of concerts and shows crammed between games for the NBA's Lakers and Clippers and the NHL's Kings. But the downtown Los Angeles venue is preparing for its craziest weekend ever. After a remarkable run of simultaneous postseason success, Staples Center's three main tenants are combining to host six playoff games in just four days. Starting with Game 3 of the Kings' Western Conference final against the Phoenix Coyotes on Thursday night and concluding with Game 4 of...