Notes, News, and Rumors from around the NBA.

The Los Angeles Clippers have won two straight games by a total of eight points. Both wins, which allowed the Clippers to shave one game off of the L.A. Lakers’ lead in the Pacific Division, came down to late-game heroics by Chris Paul. Late in Saturday’s 95-91 victory over the Houston Rockets, Paul scored 10 consecutive points in less than 2 1/2 minutes, beginning with a 16-foot jumper at the 2:42 mark of the fourth quarter, to bring the Clippers back from the six-point deficit. Paul, who had two points and two assists at the half, finished with 23 points, five assists and matched his season-high with five steals. Yesterday’s encore included bringing his team back from a nine-point fourth-quarter deficit, leading to an 87-83 overtime victory over the Detroit Pistons. Paul matched the Pistons’ overtime output, scoring nine points on 3-of-3 shooting. Paul, who had four points and 11 assists through the first three periods, finished with 19 points and 15 assists. He shot 6-of-9 over the fourth and OT periods, after attempting only five shots over the first three periods.

Paul’s weekend performances, however, aren’t out of the norm for the All-Star guard. According to NBA.com/Stats, Paul’s M.O. this season has been focusing on finding the open teammate in the first half and aggressively looking for his shot in the second half. Over 39 games, Paul is averaging 19.7 points (281-of-572) and 8.4 assists. Broken down by halves, he averages 8.1 points (6.3 field goal attempts) and 4.5 assists in the first half, and 11.2 points (8.1 field goal attempts) and 3.8 assists in the second. Not surprisingly, according to NBA.com/Stats, Paul, despite averaging fewer than 20 points, is one of the league’s most prolific fourth-quarter (7.2) and clutch scorers (4.2), ranking fourth in both categories. NBA.com/Stats considers clutch the last five minutes of a game, including OT, with a team trailing (within five points) or tied.

4TH QTR. SCORING LEADERS (Through March 18)
Player	GP	FGM	FGA	PTS
Kevin Durant (OKC)	38	2.5	5.4	7.5
Derrick Rose (CHI)	26	2.2	5.1	7.2
Kobe Bryant (LAL)	44	2.5	6.4	7.1
Chris Paul (LAC)	37	2.4	4.7	6.9

CLUTCH SCORING LEADERS (Through March 18)
Player	GP	FGM	FGA	PTS
Kevin Durant (OKC)	22	1.5	3.8	5.1
Joe Johnson (ATL)	17	1.3	2.8	4.3
Carmelo Anthony (NYK)	15	1.5	4.2	4.2
Chris Paul (LAC)	26	1.2	2.9	4.2

Gooden, Bynum Earn Weekly Honors
The Milwaukee Bucks’ Drew Gooden and the Los Angeles Lakers’ Andrew Bynum today were named the Eastern and Western Conference Players of the Week, respectively, for games played March 12-18. Gooden led the Bucks to a 3-0 week behind averages of 18.0 points, 9.7 rebounds and 8.0 assists. Bynum led the Lakers to a 3-1 week, which included wins over the Grizzlies and Timberwolves. Bynum led the West in rebounding (14.8 rpg) and placed second in scoring (27.5) while shooting .665 from the field (fourth in the conference). More

Stats & Stuff:

If Chicago defeats Orlando tonight, Tom Thibodeau breaks Phil Jackson’s team mark for reaching the 100-win plateau the fastest. Jackson won his 100th game with the Bulls in his 142nd game on March 12, 1991. Jackson, Doug Collins, Dick Motta and Scott Skiles are the only coaches in franchise history to have won 100 or more games while with the Bulls. Avery Johnson holds the NBA record for reaching the 100-win plateau the fastest (131 games: Dec. 31, 2006).
Dallas’ Dirk Nowitzki needs 106 points to pass Charles Barkley (23,757) for 19th on the all-time scoring list.
Denver’s Ty Lawson is averaging 14.9 points, 9.0 assists, 5.7 rebounds, and 1.80 steals over his last 10 games.
In his last five games, Golden State’s Dorrell Wright is averaging 16.0 points, 7.8 rebounds and 1.50 steals while shooting .500 from the field and .484 from long distance.
Over the past 10 games, Philadelphia’s Andre Iguodala has recorded 65 assists with just 10 turnovers, ranks third in the NBA in assist-to-turnover ratio (3.18).

Rumors

Adrian Wojnarowski: JJ Hickson has completed a buyout with the Kings, league source tells Y! Twitter
Coach Doc Rivers said the team is “close” on signing a couple of free-agent centers but nothing is imminent.Boston Globe