Spurs 111 Clippers 82

BKN Clippers Spurs Preview


After a successful homestand, the Los Angeles Clippers are hoping to reverse their fortunes on the road.

The Clippers (9-8) try for their first road victory of the season Friday night when they visit the San Antonio Spurs (14-5).

The Clippers were left as the only team in the NBA without a win away from home after Washington beat the New York Knicks on Wednesday. Los Angeles is 0-6 on the road and has dropped 12 straight regular season games away from its home court.

Snapping that streak against the Spurs won't be easy, if recent history is any indication. The Clippers have lost their last seven games in San Antonio, going winless there since Jan. 31, 2002.

Overall, the Clippers have dropped nine of their last 10 matchups with the Spurs.

Los Angeles, however, is coming off a 3-1 homestand, capped by Tuesday's 101-97 victory over defending champion Miami. Elton Brand had 33 points and 17 rebounds after scoring 31 points in Sunday's 116-91 win over Orlando.

Brand had not scored more than 21 points in his previous seven games. He's scoring 18.9 points per game this season after averaging 24.7 last season.

``What we were doing wasn't working,'' Brand said. ``I needed some touches. I don't mind taking two shots a game if we win, but we needed to mix it up.''

Cuttino Mobley added 21 points and Shaun Livingston had 11 points and seven assists for Los Angeles, which has averaged 108.5 points in its last two games - more than 10 above its season average.

``Right now we're in a nice flow,'' Brand said. ``Coach (Mike Dunleavy) is doing a few things to get me the ball. He's saying, 'Hey we want to run these sets, and play like this.' He's getting the big men the ball, and we're sharing the ball. That's all it takes to be a good team.''

The Spurs have won three straight, including Wednesday's 96-76 victory at Charlotte. Tim Duncan scored 25 points despite missing three dunks over the Bobcats' Emeka Okafor in the first quarter.

``It was frustrating. I got everything at the rim that I wanted but I couldn't finish,'' Duncan said. ``I played through that, was able to get some touches in the fourth quarter and got those to go down for me.''

San Antonio has outscored its opponents by an average of 108.3-87.7 during its winning streak. The Spurs are allowing 91.5 points per game this season, ranking them among the best defensive clubs in the NBA.

``They did what championship teams do,'' Charlotte's Gerald Wallace said. ``They took advantage of mismatches, and they were able to execute their offense better than we were.''

I know the Spurs are in the drivers seat as long as they play the clipps hard they will win period. Now that Dallas lost last night, the Spurs can win tonight and be what? like a whole game ahead of Dallas if i'm correct? Well as far as the Clipps they have Brand, Cory C, and C Mobely to fill in thier inside and outside work. Timmy will take care of that while Bruce, Manu, and Tony take care of the rest. Oh yeah and Brent too lol, Go Spurs Go!!!

Playing against the Clippers is never easy.I hope Manuplays around 25-30 mintues tonight and Duncan plays like he has been lately then it will be our win.But it won't be easy.

I'm impressed with the Spurs so far tonight, and Elson has come alive! But when will Ginobili get back in the starting line up??

I hope the Spurs play as well when they go to LA and play the Clippers on Monday, it is a back-to-back.

It's good to see Parker distributing the basketball (14 assists)

I want the Spurs to win by 50 tonight, they're only up by 31 right now. Not enough.

Spurs are up 35 now, getting closer to 50 ...

nice ass whoop'n

that is three blowouts in a row - I think teams will start dreading playing the Spurs

Um. WOW

FANTASTIC win! And GO MANU!!!!!!!!!

Parker helps Spurs dismantle Clippers
ELIZABETH WHITE-Associated Press

SAN ANTONIO - Tony Parker had a career-high 15 assists and Manu Ginobili scored 22 points Friday night as the San Antonio Spurs beat the Los Angeles Clippers 111-82. Tim Duncan and Brent Barry each added 16 points and Michael Finley had 13 for the Spurs. Francisco Elson finished with 11.

Parker bested his previous high of 14 assists and added nine points.

Shaun Livingston scored 16 points for the Clippers, the NBA's only winless road team at 0-7. Corey Maggette scored 12, Chris Kaman had 11 and Elton Brand added 10.

Both Ginobili and Livingston went 8-of-11 from the field.

The Spurs went 10-of-24 on 3-pointers. The Clippers took only four shots from behind the arc, making two.

The Spurs took a 33-22 lead into the second. Ginobili, who has been bothered by a lower back contusion, came off the bench with 6:31 left in the first. He immediately made a bucket for San Antonio, then followed with a 3-pointer. Ginobili had eight in the period.

The Spurs upped their lead in the second quarter with the help of seven assists from Parker and all of Barry's first half points. Barry was 3-of-3 from the field and 2-of-2 at the foul line, for 11 points.

San Antonio was ahead 65-43 at the break.

Parker had no points in the first half but 12 assists, including a pass to Elson for a dunk that was part of a 12-2 San Antonio run.

Ginobili and Duncan had 12 apiece for the half. The Clippers were led by Livingston, who shot 5-of-6 from the field, with 10.

Parker had five quick points in the third quarter. Ginobili didn't miss in the fourth and scored seven points in a row for the Spurs before coach Gregg Popovich took him out for the night.

The Spurs' 90-59 lead going into the final 12 minutes allowed Popovich to give floor time to his reserves, including Beno Udrih, who had eight points.

Notes: The Clippers were tied with the Spurs at 2, but never had a lead. ... The Spurs' biggest lead was 37. ... The Spurs have won eight straight home meetings with the Clippers. ... Clippers G Sam Cassell came into the game off the bench with just under four minutes left in the first quarter. ... Finley started in place of Ginobili.

Awesome!! where did this team come from, 20+ blow outs WOW

^^ I dont know but Im loving it

Spurs 111, Clippers 82
ELIZABETH WHITE
Associated Press

SAN ANTONIO - Maybe Manu Ginobili should always come off the bench.

For that matter, maybe Tony Parker should stick to passing instead of shooting - at least for the first half.

The two San Antonio players had stellar performances Friday night as the Spurs beat the Los Angeles Clippers 111-82.

Parker had a career-high 15 assists, besting his previous record of 14, which also came against the Clippers in December 2003.

Ginobili had 22 points in fewer than 20 minutes.

Parker was scoreless in the first half, missing both his shots while focusing on getting the ball to teammates. All nine of his points came in the third quarter.

"They (the Clippers) were kind of forcing me to pass it because they never really left me open," Parker said. "My teammates kept making shots, so I decided to keep passing the ball."

Parker had been averaging 19 points and just over five assists a game.

"We just happened to have a great night and it was sparked by Tony Parker," Spurs coach Gregg Popovich said. "I think he set the table for our team really well. ... He got everybody involved."

As for Ginobili, the usual starter came in off the bench halfway through the first quarter as he continues to get back into playing shape. Ginobili was out for several games with a lower back contusion.

"He's starting to feel more confident with his rhythm and body. I wish he would have played a little longer to get into shape," Popovich said.

Ginobili had been averaging just over 13 points in almost 28 minutes a game this season. And he didn't seem worried about being a reserve.

"I don't know when it's going to change, but we're doing great," he said.

Tim Duncan and Brent Barry each added 16 points and Michael Finley had 13 for the Spurs. Francisco Elson finished with 11. Duncan also had 10 rebounds.

Shaun Livingston scored 16 points for the Clippers, the NBA's only winless road team at 0-7. Corey Maggette scored 12, Chris Kaman had 11 and Elton Brand added 10.

Both Ginobili and Livingston went 8-of-11 from the field.

"They're just a better team than us right now and it showed tonight," Livingston said. "I think right now we're still finding ourselves."

The Spurs went 10-of-24 on 3-pointers. The Clippers took only four shots from behind the arc, making two.

"We got outworked," Clippers coach Mike Dunleavy said. "Defensively, we gave up too many high-percentage shots to them."

The Spurs took a 33-22 lead into the second. Ginobili came off the bench with 6:31 left in the first and immediately made a bucket for San Antonio, then followed with a 3-pointer. He had eight in the period.

The Spurs upped their lead in the second quarter with the help of seven assists from Parker and all of Barry's first-half points. Barry was 3-of-3 from both the field and the foul line, for 11 points.

San Antonio was ahead 65-43 at the break.

Parker had 12 assists in the half, including a pass to Elson for a dunk that was part of a 12-2 San Antonio run.

Ginobili and Duncan had 12 points apiece for the half. The Clippers were led by Livingston, who shot 5-of-6 from the field, with 10.

Ginobili didn't miss in the fourth and scored seven points in a row before Popovich took him out for the night.

The Spurs' 90-59 lead going into the final 12 minutes allowed Popovich to give floor time to his reserves, including Beno Udrih, who had eight points Friday.

The Spurs improved to 15-5 and the Clippers fell to 9-9. But the Clippers will get another shot at San Antonio on Monday in California, where Popovich said he expects a more competitive matchup.

"If we want to win, we've got to play the right way and do the right thing," Maggette said. "If we don't, we'll be the same old Clippers."

Notes: The Clippers were tied with the Spurs at 2, but never had a lead. ... The Spurs' biggest lead was 37. ... The Spurs have won eight straight home meetings with the Clippers. ... Clippers G Sam Cassell came into the game off the bench with just under four minutes left in the first quarter. ... Finley started in place of Ginobili. ... Tim Thomas of the Clippers bruised his right hand. X-rays were negative.