All square as Clippers get their revenge

  1 of 2   

Miami Heat's Dwyane Wade (center) tries to break through the defense of Los Angeles Clippers' Blake Griffin (left) during their NBA China Games in Shanghai yesterday.

More in photo gallery

THE Miami Heat's Big Three sat on the bench for most of the second half and watched the Los Angeles Clippers beat the NBA champions 99-89 in the second NBA China Games in Shanghai yesterday.

All-Star guard Chris Paul, who sat out the first game in Beijing on Thursday, led the Clippers with center DeAndre Jordan scoring game-high 18 points.

The game ended with the crowd calling out for Wade: "Let Wade play". The Heat guard waved at them.

With top players like Wade and LeBron James staying off the court for most of the game, fans were heard complaining that the game was not worth the tickets.

Despite the loss, the Heats are looking ahead positively to the new season.

"It will be an exciting season," said Heat star guard Dwyane Wade, who played just eight minutes in the first quarter.

He pointed out that some NBA teams had big moves this summer.

"We know as defending champions, it's going to be hard to repeat," said Wade. "We accept and love competition."

Clippers led all the way as they avenged an 80-94 loss to Miami in Beijing on Thursday. Clippers' power forward Blake Griffin scored 13 points and grabbed 10 rebounds and was voted the game's MVP.

Clippers cooled "King" James who did not score his first 2 points until the third quarter. James had 11 points but his 4 assists topped the Heat.

One alley-oop basket from James to Wade soon after the game started sent the crowd wild in the Benz arena.

All-Star guard Paul said he decided to play in Shanghai to make up for missing out the game in Beijing on Thursday. Paul is coming back from a thumb injury.

The Clippers guard guided the offense, netting 6 assists and scoring 4 points in his 21 minutes stay on the court.

"Time is the biggest thing you miss," said Paul of missing out of action, but added that he kept training and his physical condition was good.

Retired Chinese superstar Yao Ming was presented at the courtside along with retired NBA stars Tim Hardaway, Alonzo Mourning and legendary Bill Russell, in front of a sell-out crowd of 18,000.

It was the third time since 2004 that Shanghai was hosting the NBA China Games. "Eight years since the first NBA China Games they brought all the equipments like scoreboard, floor and even baskets to China," said Yao, recalling the time in 2004 when he was on the court as a player with the Houston Rocket. "Now we have a modern arena and great groups."

NBA commissioner David Stern also announced that the NBA would participate in an annual summer game with Yao Ming's charity foundation. "The future of basketball in China is bright," said Stern.

The future NBA projects in China include youth basketball development and training for coaches as the league extended its cooperation with China Basketball Association for another three years.

Yao also said he was working on plans to organize a high-school basketball league in the near future. "Basketball for me is more like a lifestyle. I can learn a lot, both on the court and off the court," said Yao.

Email Story    Printable View    Blog Story    Copy Headline/URL