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WASHINGTON -- Chris Paul called it a "must-win. Astros Mike Scott Jersey ." Blake Griffin deemed it a "Game 7," which, technically, it was. Like many weary teams before them, the Los Angeles Clippers could have mentally checked out when faced with the final game of a long road trip. Instead, they shared the ball impeccably and wrapped up a tougher-than-it-shouldve-been East Coast swing Saturday night with a 113-97 win over the Washington Wizards. "We wanted to try to turn this from an OK trip into a good trip," Paul said. "There was a lot of factors. Its a long flight back home, and weve got a lot of sore losers on this team." Los Angeles never trailed and had assists on 27 of 39 field goals, including 16 of 21 in the first half. Paul finished with 38 points and 12 assists, and the Clippers shot 56 per cent to conclude a 4-3 journey that included games against six Eastern Conference teams, leaving them 6-6 on the season against the pedestrian East and 10-3 against the mighty West. "This was important to close out," Griffin said. "We kind of looked at it as like a Game 7 for us, being on the road. Game 7, got to win. I thought we responded well." Griffin had 16 points and nine rebounds and was particularly vocal, keeping his teammates focused on the game at hand. The Clippers, on the road since Dec. 2, had already logged more than 6,000 miles on the trip. "Blake Griffin, every timeout, kept saying, No letup. Were the tired team, lets not think about it. Lets keep playing," coach Doc Rivers said. Paul was also at the forefront of the dont-let-up agenda. Sure, he was exaggerating when he called this a must-win in the wake of Thursdays loss at Brooklyn, but sometimes thats what it takes. "Were going to make him say that every night," Rivers joked. Paul went 11 for 14 from the field and made all 11 of his free throws. Jamal Crawford played the fifth man instead of the sixth man, making his first start since April 9, 2012, and finished with 17 points. Jared Dudley, who apologized to fans on Twitter after a 1-for-7 shooting performance against Brooklyn, found his game and carried the Clippers early, going 4 for 5 in the first quarter and finishing with 16 points. "Hes a great shooter," Rivers said. "Its not going away forever. It just went away for a little while, and we wanted it to come back as soon as possible." John Wall had 24 points and 12 assists for the Wizards, who have lost four straight since reaching .500 for the first time since 2009. The outcome appeared predetermined when coach Randy Wittman announced before the game that Nene would sit out again because of a foot injury. The Wizards have lost seven in a row when Nene doesnt play and are 3-24 without the Brazilian forward since the beginning of last season. But even Nene probably wouldnt have made much of a difference against the efficient Clippers. "You could see theres a difference between the teams, the way they talk to each other, the way they communicate, just basically the rule of winning," Washington centre Marcin Gortat said. Gortat, who went 3 for 10 from the field, also stirred the pot by saying the Wizards arent using him the right way. "I dont like the position I play," Gortat said. "Im constantly drifting more and more away from the basket and quite honestly, thats not my game. ... I just think Ive got to talk to Coach and just clear things up." The Clippers were always in control, but a 6-0 run consisting of nothing but dunks -- one by Griffin, two by DeAndre Jordan -- pushed the lead to 19 in the third quarter and pretty much settled the matter. The Wizards trailed by double digits for the entire second half. "They got everything they wanted," Washington swingman Trevor Ariza said. "We didnt get any stops." NOTES: Crawford started ahead of Willie Green because Rivers wanted to see how Green played with Darren Collison on the second unit. Rivers isnt sure if hell stick with that plan. ... Washingtons Kevin Seraphin scored a season-high 16 points. Astros Tony Kemp Jersey . The Senators return from a lengthy layoff caused by Wednesdays attack on Parliament Hill to host the New Jersey Devils on Saturday night. Astros Max Stassi Jersey . It all would have been for naught, however, had it not been for some clutch shooting in the fourth quarter by Kobe Bryant and a couple of equally critical hustle plays by Derek Fisher and Pau Gasol in the final minutes. http://www.cheapastrosjerseysauthentic.com/?tag=astros-myles-straw-jersey ... as usual. Even with the salary cap being set lower than many general managers expected and hoped for at $69 million and whats considered a shallow pool of top-end players available, this unrestricted-free-agent period figures to follow the familiar script of teams bidding up prices to keep up with each other. MONTREAL -- As soon as Impact manager Frank Klopas was handed his championship medal, he kissed it. In the midst of a tough season in Major League Soccer, Klopas and his Montreal squad were awarded the silverware after defeating Toronto FC 1-0 in the second leg of the Amway Canadian Championship final on Wednesday. Montreal defended its Voyageurs Cup, taking home the trophy for the second consecutive year after winning the two-legged final 2-1 on aggregate. The win is a major victory for a squad sitting at the bottom of the league standings. "You have to seize the moment," said Klopas, who won his first trophy as an MLS coach. "This was one of our goals as a team. When its there in front of you, you cant let opportunities get away. You cant take them for granted." Because the Impact scored a crucial away goal in a 1-1 draw in the first leg of the final at BMO Field on May 28, a scoreless draw in Montreal would have been sufficient for the overall victory. And the game was scoreless heading into stoppage time before Felipes first Canadian championship goal sealed Montreals win. Felipe powered home a decisive strike to the right of TFC goalkeeper Joe Bendik minutes before the final whistle to give the Impact their third Voyageurs Cup in the competitions seven-year history. "When I get on the field, I just want to do my best and do my job and keep doing the job I did today," said the soft-spoken Felipe after the game. As a result, the Impact (2-1-1) advance to the group stage of the CONCACAF Champions League and will represent Canada in the annual club competition featuring 24 teams from North America, Central America and the Caribbean. The Impact join the New York Red Bulls and El Salvadors C.D. FAS in Group 3 of the Champions League, which gets underway in August. "Its important for us to represent Canada well," added the Brazilian-born Felipe. Montreal has now taken back-to-back Canadian championships after Toronto FC lifted the trophy four consecutive years from 2009 to 2012. Montreal won the inaugural event in 2008. Toronto (1-2-1) made it interesting late Wednesday. Needing just one goal to move on, Jonathan Osario came awfully close to the winner in the 83rd minute of play when he skipped past an Impact defender and hit the post to keeper Evan Bushs left. "We just couldnt get that goal," said TFC manager Ryan Nelsen. "Hitting the post really summed it up. We had nice periods of play, controlled the ball for most of the time, but just couldnt get that break that would have won us the tournament." Toronto has otherwise had Montreals number since the tournament launched. TFC are now 7-2-2 all-time against the Impact in the Canaadian championship. Astros Cionel Perez Jersey. Nelsens men came out flying from the get-go, putting instant pressure on Bush. Benefiting from winger Alvaro Reys good speed down the touchline, Toronto got several good crosses into the box in the games first 30 minutes. Star striker Jermain Defoe had a volley blocked in the fourth minute of play, and skied a free kick from an advanced position in the sixth. In the 26th, a rocket by midfielder Kyle Bekker missed the net just wide. "I played a very young team over two legs that deserved to win," said Nelsen, whose team is sixth in the league with 16 points from 10 games. "Imagine whats going to happen next year when they start to mature. This is great experience for those guys. They played against Montreals top team. Next year well be even better." The tide turned in Montreals favour at the half-hour mark, with the Impact seemingly gaining confidence from a Jack McInerney header off a corner that missed just over the bar. From there, the Impact came close to opening the score on many occasions. Two left-footed volleys from Marco Di Vaio went wide, and a Hernan Bernardello free kick forced a good save from Bendik, who sprawled to his left to stop the shot in the 43rd minute. It was Montreals only attempt on target in the first half. In the end, the clean sheet was the Impacts second in as many games. Montreal has not conceded a goal in the Canadian championship at Saputo Stadium since joining Major League Soccer three years ago. "I knew it was going to be a close game," said Klopas of the second leg. "With the quality players (Toronto) have in the final third, we just had to make sure we defended really well. Sometimes things are just meant to be." Montreal will look to build on the victory when the team returns to MLS action on June 11. With just two wins from 12 league games, the Impact are last in the Eastern Conference. "Regardless of how we started the season, things take time," said Klopas. "My group never lost faith. We stuck together as a team. Winning some games has made us even stronger." Last season, the Impact finished last in their CONCACAF group. In 2008-09, the team reached the quarter-finals of the Champions League, losing 5-4 on aggregate to Mexicos Santos Laguna. Toronto FC were also beaten by Santos in the semifinals of the tournaments 2011-12 edition. "I want to wish Montreal the best in the next leg representing Canada," said Nelsen. "I hope they do really well." Notes: Acquired on Monday by Montreal, Mamadou Danso was ineligible to play in the final. a Toronto heads back to BMO Field for an MLS game with the San Jose Earthquakes on Saturday. 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