Clippers fall to Bulls, 83-80, in third game of a five-game trip

The Clippers’ three-game win-streak was snapped in an 83-80 loss to the Chicago Bulls on Thursday.

After making eight three-pointers in the fourth quarter, the Clippers had to make just one more to send the game to overtime.

With 0.9 seconds left and the Clippers down, 83-80, Chris Paul shot an off-balance three-point attempt, but it bounced off the back of the rim.

The Clippers, who trailed by as many as 16 points, opened the fourth quarter with a 12-0 run to tie the score at 66-66 with 7 minutes 19 seconds left after Josh Smith made back-to-back three pointers.

They lived off the three-point shot in the fourth quarter, making eight of their 11 shots from beyond the arc in the final 12 minutes, and scoring each of their baskets from that distance until the 1:44 mark.

It was an impressive try for the Clippers considering they were without Blake Griffin, who was ejected midway through the third quarter after being assessed a flagrant 2 foul for clobbering Taj Gibson across the head.

As hot as the Clippers were in the fourth quarter, that’s how horrid they were in the second, when they made only three of their 23 shot attempts and were outscored by the Bulls, 21-11.

Griffin led the Clippers with 18 points and 11 rebounds in just under 25 minutes. Chris Paul had 12 points, five assists and four turnovers. DeAndre Jordan had 10 points and 14 rebounds.

The Clippers outshot the Bulls from beyond the three-point line, 45.5% to 30.4%.

The Bulls, who snapped a three-game losing streak with the win, were led by Pau Gasol, who had 24 points on 10-for-19 shooting and six rebounds.

The Clippers are now 2-1 on their five-game trip, with their next game against the Brooklyn Nets on Saturday.