Despite 42 points and 15 assists, Chris Paul focuses on his mistakes

Chris Paul sat at the podium wearing stylish black-rimmed glasses, his eyes focused on the stat sheet in front of him, his glare staring at one category in particular.

Paul had just delivered a performance that put him in rare company, but he zeroed in on his unsuccessful moments and not the successes that led the Clippers to a 126-115 victory over the Golden State Warriors on Thursday night at Staples Center.

He looked past his 42 points, 15 assists and six steals that made him the first NBA player to record at least 40 points, 15 assists and five steals since the NBA began recording steals 30 years ago, according to Elias Sports Bureau.

He looked past those numbers that left Paul and LeBron James as the only active NBA players to have at least 40 points and 15 assists in a game, according to Elias, the NBA stat guru.

No, Chris Paul had other things on his mind after the Clippers home season opener.

“I’m looking at the stat sheet for the first time and I noticed I had six turnovers,” Paul said.

Really?

That’s the first thing he saw, Paul was asked.

What about going 12-for-20 from the field, 16-for-17 from the free-throw line? What about the 15 points he scored in the fourth quarter to keep the Warriors at bay?

“Yeah, but I had six turnovers and I didn’t give us an opportunity to score,” Paul responded. “At the end of the day, as a point guard, you evaluate yourself on wins and losses. I’m not big on turnovers. I hate turnovers.”

Paul’s coach, Doc Rivers, took a different view about his point guard’s play.

“He was awesome,” Rivers said about Paul.

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