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Top 10: Individual Performances Of The Year

Rowan Kavner

From buzzer beaters and inside dominance to game-winners and 3-point excellence, there were plenty of notable individual performances throughout the year from individual Clipper players.

It shows just how many incredible performances happened when Chris Paul’s triple-double against the Jazz and Blake Griffin’s 39-point Halloween performance against the Lakers fell just outside the list of the top 10 best. To make the list, an individual player had to stand out and the Clippers had to win the game.

Here are the top 10 individual performances from the 2014-15 season:

10) Feb 11, Jordan vs. Rockets

DeAndre Jordan filled the stat sheet against Houston with 24 points, 20 rebounds, three steals, two blocks and two assists. The performance came during an explosive streak for Jordan with Blake Griffin out of the lineup dealing with staph in his elbow. In a three-game span, Jordan amassed two 20-20 games and a 26-point, 18-rebound performance. He finished the regular season with four 20-20 games.

9) Nov. 8, Redick vs. Trail Blazers

Redick needed to make this list for one of his many stellar shooting performances. Since the day Game 3 against the Rockets belonged to Austin Rivers despite Redick’s 31-point night, Redick made the top 10 list for his 30-point performance against Portland in a four-point win. Redick went 11-of-13 from the floor, but he only took three 3-pointers. He frustrated the Trail Blazers from inside the arc and at the free-throw line, finishing as the game’s leading scorer.

8) Jan. 17, Barnes vs. Kings

The Clippers had just lost two of three games when they faced the Kings and saw Matt Barnes tie his season-high with 26 points, while also adding a season-high 10 rebounds for his lone double-double of the season. That nine-point victory began a six-game winning streak for the Clippers. 

7) Jan. 31, Griffin vs. Spurs

It could’ve been wins such as this one, a 20-point victory in San Antonio, which gave the Clippers confidence they could beat the Spurs on the road in the playoffs. After a disappointing loss to the Pelicans, the Clippers made up for it against the Spurs, led by Griffin’s 31 points, 13 rebounds and five assists. Griffin and Paul were the only Clippers with more than 11 points in the win.

6) May 8, Rivers vs. Rockets (Game 3)

Before this game began, it was all about Paul’s return to the lineup after missing the first two games of the Rockets series. After the game, all the talk was on his backup. Rivers scored 25 points in 23 minutes off the bench on 10-of-13 shooting while also adding six rebounds, giving the Clippers all the bench spark necessary in a 25-point Game 3 win.

5) April 1, Paul vs. Trail Blazers

The last time he saw the Trail Blazers, Paul held Damian Lillard to 1-of-13 shooting. On April Fools’ Day, it was Paul’s offense that was no joke. Paul guided the Clippers past the Trail Blazers in Portland with 41 points, 17 assists, five rebounds and just one turnover.

4) May 4, Griffin vs. Rockets (Game 1)

Griffin didn’t have any triple-doubles in the regular season. He then proceeded to record three triple-doubles in his 14 postseason games, none more impressive than his 26-point, 14-rebound, 13-assist game against the Rockets in Game 1 of the second round. The Clippers needed everyone’s help with Paul out, and Griffin led the way in a 16-point win in Houston.

3) Feb. 9, Jordan vs. Mavs

The Clippers had just found out they lost Griffin to a staph infection a game prior in a loss in Oklahoma City. They needed a spark, and they got it from Jordan, who delivered with 22 points and a season-high 27 rebounds to take down the Mavericks in Dallas. Mavericks head coach Rick Carlisle couldn’t help but think of Wilt Chamberlain when describing Jordan’s performance against a depleted Mavs team playing the majority of the game without an injured Tyson Chandler.

2) Dec. 8, Griffin vs. Suns

Griffin shot a career-high 40 percent from 3-point range this season, but one of his 10 3-pointers comes to mind more than others. Griffin stepped back and launched a 3-point shot in overtime against the Suns that hit off the rim, went straight up in the air and down through the net. The buzzer-beater sent STAPLES Center into a frenzy, as the Clippers beat Phoenix thanks in large part to Griffin’s season-high 45 points. 

1) May 2, Paul vs. Spurs (Game 7)

By now, everyone should know how this one ended. For a while, it appeared Paul may not have even been able to play at all after a first quarter in which he strained his hamstring. After heading to the locker room, he came back out before the end of the first half and proceeded to finish the game with 27 points, including the game-winner. The gutsiest performance of the year also happened to be one of the most important for the Clippers.