Los Angeles Clippers Win the Thriller Against the San Antonio Spurs, 108-105

The Los Angeles Clippers took down the San Antonio Spurs in a highly entertaining and interesting event at the Staples Center last night, 108-105. The contest looked like a true playoff battle, with the last 20 minutes being dramatic.

Paul George decided this one with his dagger with 13.7 seconds to go, which put the Clippers up four points, 106-102. The Spurs wouldn’t give up even after that, but didn’t have the power to perform a miracle.

PAUL GEORGE DAGGER! 🔪 pic.twitter.com/Rw7a4yKSq1

— NBA TV (@NBATV) February 4, 2020

PG was struggling to find his shot from downtown, making just one three-pointer in five attempts, but managed to reach 19 points. However, he was more than productive in all other aspects of the play, adding 12 rebounds and 8 assists to his account, all that in 31 minutes on the court.

He would receive a nasty hit with an elbow to the face from DeMar DeRozan, but continue to play. Of course, DD didn’t’ have any intention of hurting his rival.

“He said it was just bleeding,” Doc Rivers explained that PG didn’t want to sit and rest after the hit.

His LA had to work hard in this one, and after a long time they faced the opponent who didn’t allow them to catch their usual rhythm in the last period. San Antonio would stick with them all the time, creating problems on both ends, and forcing Doc Rivers’ team to play with 100% of their capabilities.

“The defense in the second half won the game for us,” said Doc immediately after the contest.

Gregg Popovich’s side had a 13-point lead early on in the second period, 42-29, but they couldn’t keep that. As time went by in the second, the hosts started cutting down that edge, before finally leveling the game after preventing the Spurs to score more than three minutes after the halftime break.

Afterward, it was point for point, with tough defenses, lots of physicality, and intense battle on both sides of the court.

San Antonio had LaMarcus Aldridge with 27 points and nine rebounds, followed by DeMar DeRozan with 26 points and five boards. The only two players with a double-digit number of points were Patty Mills who scored 18 off the bench, all of them from behind the three-point line, and Trey Lyles with 10.

As for the hosts, Kawho Leonard led the way with 22 points, 7 dimes and six assists. Pat Beverly scored four threes, for 12 buckets, the same as Lou Williams, who interestingly didn’t make a single long-distance shot. Montrezl Harrell had 14 points, and Zubac nine with 8 boards.

“I just do. We like Trez in the games more, but if Zu’s playing well, Zu will. They’re good with it,” Clippers coach stated.

The Clippers (35-15) are now awaiting Miami Heat on next Wednesday, and two days later traveling to Minnesota to face Timberwolves. That will be the first of four straight road games, with the following three being against the teams from the Eastern Conference – Cavaliers, 76ers and the Celtics.

Spurs (22-26), meanwhile, already started their journey. After this one, they will stay in LA for a matchup against the Lakers and afterward travel to Portland, Sacramento, Denver, Oklahoma City, Salt Lake City, and OKC again. It is a pretty rough stretch for Popovich’s boys, whose playoff fate depends upon their results during this period.

Needless to say that they need to have at least four wins in order to hope to reach the postseason.