Rowan Kavner
Score: SAS 115 – LAC 107
SAN ANTONIO – Against the Spurs, the smallest of windows need to be closed to leave win a win.
Next Game: 12/19
That’s a lesson the Clippers know well from their thrilling seven-game series win last season, but in the first matchup between the teams this year, it was the Spurs (23-5) pulling away late in a 115-107 Clippers (16-11) loss Friday night.
The Clippers never led by more than seven points, but with the way they were shooting, they held a lead most of the night.
That was still the case after three quarters and a flurry of intentional fouls on DeAndre Jordan, taking an 88-85 lead into the fourth quarter when things went south.
Against a group of Clippers backups, the Spurs jumped out on an 8-0 run before Jordan and Blake Griffin returned to the game. By then, on a night where neither team could miss, the Spurs had already found their groove.
San Antonio’s run got up to 11-0, giving San Antonio an eight-point lead, their largest of the night. Still, the Clippers found a couple moments where they could’ve made a move late in the fourth quarter. Against the Spurs, who lead the NBA in both offensive and defensive efficiency this month, there aren’t many.
Tim Duncan, who finished with 14 points, uncharacteristically missed a point blank layup with a chance to give San Antonio a double-digit lead. The Clippers followed with back-to-back baskets from Chris Paul, who had 27 points and 10 assists, and Josh Smith. Then Wesley Johnson got open in the corner with a good look at a 3-pointer which could’ve cut the Spurs’ lead down to one, but it was off the mark.
Following an alley-oop finish from Jordan, who had 16 points and 17 rebounds, the Clippers missed a chance at an offensive rebound down by four points, leading to another bucket from the Spurs, which put it away.
Blake Griffin finished with 25 points, five rebounds and five assists, including his second 3-pointer of the game to cut the deficit to four points with seconds remaining, but the hole was too deep, as the Clippers fell despite shooting 50 percent from the floor.
The game was the first of a back-to-back, as the Clippers now head to Houston.
