(Andrew D. Bernstein/NBAE via Getty Images)
Tonight was a mixed bag for the LA Clippers. A mostly good night, but not a perfect night.
On the strength of a 1st half that saw the Clippers lead 57-45, LA held off the Spurs to win 106-101, giving San Antonio only their 2nd road loss of the season. For the 2nd time this season, the Clippers beat the Spurs while not playing the starting lineup at all in the 4th quarter.
But Clippers PG Chris Paul left the game with 4:33 left in the 3rd quarter with a left hamstring strain and did not return. Paul was working the Spurs over, compiling a near triple-double (19 points, 7 rebounds, 6 assists, 2 steals) in only 23:23.
Fortunately, the Clippers got a strong night from the preferred bench unit of Raymond Felton-Jamal Crawford-Austin Rivers-Wesley Johnson-Marreese Speights, as they outscored the Spurs 41-37 and compiled a net rating of 13.0 in 18 minutes. From the time that Paul left the game until about 40 seconds left in the 4th quarter, the Clippers outscored San Antonio 32-27, with contributions ranging from Felton’s scoring, Johnson’s rebounding, and Speights’ passing. In other words, things that don’t normally happen.
great team win. 2nd unit was huuuuuge. let's keep it rolling!
— Blake Griffin (@blakegriffin32) December 23, 2016
Felton finished with a season-high 13 points, Johnson finished with a season-high 9 rebounds, and Speights finished with a season-high 5 assists. And, of course, J-Crossover caught another body…
Here at @STAPLESCenter? Be sure to stop by @LALIVE & ⛸⛸⛸ after the game! pic.twitter.com/VOxHGixkQT
— LA Clippers (@LAClippers) December 23, 2016
A top performer from the first half was Clippers SG J.J. Redick. Redick made only three baskets all game, but they were all threes in the first quarter within 4 minutes. San Antonio never led after the first quarter, and Redick finished the game with 11 points (3-of-4 threes). In all, the Clippers made 11-of-28 threes (39.3 percent), with the starters combining to make 7-of-9 from downtown (77.8 percent). On the flipside, the Spurs made only 6-of-19 threes (31.6 percent). DeAndre Jordan also had a memorable 1st half…
😳😳😳😳😳😳😳😳😳😳 pic.twitter.com/Pb6PZV20O6
— LA Clippers (@LAClippers) December 23, 2016
A key to stopping the Spurs is stopping Leonard – the Clippers didn’t exactly do that, as Leonard went off for a game-high 27 points. But 3 of Leonard’s 4 turnovers came in the 1st half, and after Leonard had 17 points on 5-of-9 shooting by halftime, the Clippers held him to 3-of-10 shooting from the field in the 2nd half.
Now, Paul says that his hamstring injury is minor, but the Clippers play three games in the next four days.
The other concern from tonight? I don’t think you can have Wesley Johnson inbounding anymore. Johnson only has 11 turnovers this season, but he has been an unreliable inbounder:
That was crazy. pic.twitter.com/VDoEvgYQz8
— San Antonio Spurs (@spurs) December 23, 2016
Overall, the Clippers are starting to stack up some wins again. They have now won 6 of their last 7 since their stretch of 4 days off in 5 days. Not all of the wins have been convincing, and the defense has still been below average, but scoring 106 points against the Spurs with no Griffin and no player reaching 30 minutes is a good look.
