Clippers Show New Gear To Beat Spurs 98-87
- Updated: April 8, 2017
This time of the season it’s all about the team hitting its stride at the right time. For the Los Angeles Clippers, who just got their fifth consecutive win with only two games left in the regular season they’re not just striding, they’re bounding.
The San Antonio Spurs have clinched the number two seed in the Western Conference Playoffs. Meanwhile the Clippers are fighting with the Utah Jazz for home court advantage in the inevitable first round match up between the two. This game between the Clippers and Spurs however had disappointment written all over it for Los Angeles’ fans.
A season defining game taking place on the road against a team that always stands up well to pressure due to their pedigree. In the past, the Clippers leave their game on the plane and fans are left wondering if this team can stand up with the big boys in the West. Los Angeles surprised in this one to say the least.
Chris Paul got off to a hot start. He went 6 of 9 from the field in the first half and was on triple-double watch from that point forward. His hustle on both ends of the floor allowed the Clippers to remain close in the opening quarter and then pull away in the second. In the second half Paul took a backseat while some of his teammates heated up. He finished the night with 19 points to go with 8 assists and 8 rebounds.
While Paul started quickly, Blake Griffin crawled out of the gates. Griffin was 1 of 6 from the field after the first quarter and only had 4 points at the half. He started to find his stroke a bit in the second half and used some trips to the free throw line to gain some momentum. His matchup with the Spurs’ Lamarcus Aldridge was a key matchup for the Clippers and it was one Griffin won as the game carried on. Griffin finished this one with 18 points and 8 rebounds.
Another key matchup for Los Angeles was Luc Mbah a Moute squaring off with Spurs star Kawhi Leonard. Could Mbah a Moute slow Leonard, who has been scorching hot as of late in his quest for the league MVP. Leonard shot the lights out in the third quarter going for 15 in that quarter alone and closing out the game with 28 points.
Much like other superstar players in the league, teams have to know that he will make shots. How the team reacts to those buckets will be more telling and in this one Los Angeles responded beautifully. During the third quarter run the Clippers seemed to answer every Leonard bucket with one of their own and maintained their lead throughout.
Los Angeles would use that fight to control the matchup and come out on top 98-87. Los Angeles wins the season series against San Antonio 3-1. This makes the Clippers the only team this season to win their season series against the Spurs.
A huge win for Los Angeles as the playoffs approach. Thanks for reading along Clipper Nation. Here’s to carrying this momentum onward.
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