LOS ANGELES CLIPPERS

In a game that featured John Wall blowing by would-be defenders for layup after layup, Blake Griffin blasting off for dunks of all varieties and JaVale McGee soundly rejecting forays to the hoop by multiple Clippers, the turnovers were as plentiful as the highlights. At least for the Clippers, who committed 22 turnovers in regulation, including nine in the third quarter alone. In that quarter, the Clippers relinquished the nine-point lead they had taken into halftime, allowing their own sloppiness to get the better of them as the Wizards kept chipping away until they were ahead by two heading into the final frame.

But as careless as the Clippers were in regular time, they managed to find another gear in extra periods – a gear characterized by better decision-making, tighter execution and less turnovers. Those final 10 minutes of the Clippers' 127-119 double-overtime victory over the Wizards provided plenty of reason that the Clippers, safely out of playoff contention, still have plenty left to play for.

Forget that the Wizards were without Andray Blatche, Rashard Lewis and Nick Young and had entered the game with a 1-32 road record. The Clippers -- also missing a key piece in DeAndre Jordan (DNP: Pneumonia) – likely hurt themselves more than their opponent did, as the majority of their turnovers were unforced, the product of lazy passing and clunky ballhandling rather than any concerted defensive effort by the Wizards. And as we've seen this NBA season, any team, no matter how much of an underdog, can pull off the upset.

This game was important beyond giving Griffin (33 points, 17 rebounds and 10 assists for his first career triple-double and the only 30-15-10 triple-double by any player this season) a much-needed boost of energy and dispelling notions of a rookie wall that would end the season on a sour note. It gave the Clippers, previously 0-4 in overtime games this season, the confidence that they can win when it matters the most -- a quality that has largely eluded the team all year.

In close games this season, the Clippers have more often than not come up short, missing last-second shots, fumbling the ball away at the worst possible moments, loosening their defense when the situation called for the opposite. Not Wednesday night, though. First, it was Eric Gordon, who had committed several crucial turnovers, redeeming himself with a game-tying 3-pointer just before the end of the first overtime. Then, in the second overtime, it was Griffin finding a wide-open Randy Foye for another 3-pointer, this time one that effectively sealed the victory.

“It means a lot, but the best part about it was getting the win,” said Griffin, who tied Elton Brand's franchise record with his 55th double-double of the season. “It's always great to keep your teammates going and getting involved. You also have to give credit to these guys for hitting shots.”

So much for individual accomplishments, of which there were many. The Wizards got 32 points and 10 assists from Wall, the future All-Star driving to the rim at will and creating havoc in the open court. They also got several big baskets from Jordan Crawford, who despite taking 28 shots to get to 25 points, also finished with 10 assists. Then there was McGee, using his impossibly long arms and leaping ability to soar for 22 points, 13 rebounds and four blocks.

The Clippers also had to battle a lack of bench production. Gordon hit four 3-pointers en route to 32 points, and Chris Kaman scored seven of his 28 points in the second overtime. Mo Williams fouled out with 17 points in that same period, but not before he did an admirable job of setting up his teammates with 10 assists.

By no means was the game itself something to cherish. Clippers coach Vinny Del Negro said his team, despite its halftime lead, didn't play hard in the first two quarters, and you could rightly argue that the Clippers should have led by more than nine points. Then the final two frames of regulation devolved into a turnover fest, the Clippers seemingly giving the Wizards every reason to run away with the game as the anxiety level at a sold-out Staples Center rose with the two teams trading basket for basket down the stretch.

But in the end, the Clippers won the last 10 minutes of the game, and those 10 minutes will be the lasting memory of this night. The Clippers’ numbers in that stretch attest to that: three turnovers in the first overtime with none in the second, including 14 points on 6-for-9 shooting and five assists in the final overtime period. While the Clippers worked together in harmony to close it out, the Wizards bobbled their way to four turnovers and just six points in that same timeframe.

It shouldn't have come down to overtime, but in a way, those final 10 minutes were just what the Clippers needed.

“We showed some pretty good resiliency tonight in the way we gutted it out and made some plays down the stretch. Nothing is easy in this league and we battled through it...overall, we’ll take it. Some of the guys are battling through some stuff right now. We just have to stick together, get some rest and get ready for Friday.”

“It means a lot but the best part about it was getting the win. It’s always great to keep your teammates going and getting them involved. You also have to give credit to these guys for hitting shots.”

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