"When it was over, Chris Paul and Kenyon Martin slapped hands, the same hand Paul had used to hit the game-winning shot, the same hand Martin had used on defense in the final seconds to secure the Clippers' victory Friday night.

The Clippers defeated the Philadelphia 76ers, 78-77, because so many of their hands were involved in the process, not just Paul making a 16-foot jumper with 3.2 seconds left for the final score.

It was Martin helping Paul double-team Lou Williams on his final missed shot.

It was Paul scoring 24 points on 10-for-20 shooting on a night when the Clippers shot 38.8% from the field, and 10.5% (two for 19) from three-point range.

It was Mo Williams scoring 14 points despite being weak from food poisoning.

It was Reggie Evans getting 10 rebounds, five offensive. It was Martin getting seven rebounds and a blocked shot and Blake Griffin getting 16 points and 11 rebounds.

"It wasn't pretty tonight," Clippers Coach Vinny Del Negro said. "But we battled. The outcome is the outcome.

"But if you don't compete, you're not giving yourself an opportunity. We competed tonight."

The Clippers and 76ers went back and forth in the fourth quarter, playing through seven lead changes and three ties.

Just when it looked as if the Clippers had control of the game, holding a one-point lead with 20.7 seconds left and the ball, they ran into trouble."