Blake Griffin #32 of the Los Angeles Clippers takes a shot over Tim Duncan #21 of the San Antonio Spurs during the first half of Game Two of the Western Conference quarterfinals of the 2015 NBA Playoffs at Staples Center on April 22, 2015 in Los Angeles, California.
The Los Angeles Clippers lost 111-107 in overtime to the San Antonio Spurs in Game 2 at Staples Center on Wednesday night, leaving the series tied 1-1 as it heads to Texas.
Unlike the opening game of the series, the San Antonio Spurs did not fall behind early on Wednesday night. Instead, the visitors managed to keep a slight lead for most of the opening quarter. Tim Duncan led the way with eight points in the first quarter, and the iconic Spurs' forward would make his first six shots. Spurs coach Gregg Popovich foreshadowed Duncan's fast start during the pregame press conferences.
"[Duncan]'s steadiness, consistency and class really makes everyone look good--that includes the NBA and they know that," Popovich said. "He affects many lives in our community and on our team. He pays my bills."
Along with Duncan, Kawhi Leonard also got off to a hot start with seven points in the opening 12 minutes. Leonard led the Spurs with 18 points in the series opener, but as a whole, the team struggled and only 36.6 percent in that game.
San Antonio Spurs coach Gregg Popovich did not seem to respond well to the questions asked of him after Game 1 against the LA Clippers in the 2015 NBA Playoffs (Published Monday, Apr 20, 2015)
In the first quarter, the Spurs shook off that rust and started the game shooting 55.0 percent, and consequently, they carried a four-point lead into the second period. The Spurs would have held a larger lead, but Chris Paul started the game making four of his first five shots and looked determined to keep his team and crowd in the ball game.
Adding to Paul, Blake Griffin followed up his 26-point performance in Game One with 19 points in the first half of Game Two. Paul and Griffin accounted for 30 of the Clippers' 47 points at the intermission. Including the Clippers' third big star, DeAndre Jordan, the Clippers' top three players accounted for 38 of the Clippers' 47 first-half points.
At that stage, San Antonio led by five points despite shooting only 25 percent from beyond the arc. Duncan's 16 point, three assists and four rebounds had a great deal to do with the Spurs' advantage at halftime. The 38-year-old, whose future in the NBA remains uncertain, looked like he could play another five years at a high level, if he so chose.
In the third quarter, the Spurs finally found their range from distance. After missing eight of nine three-pointers in the second quarter, San Antonio hit three of seven shots from beyond the arc in the third quarter. The Spurs would jump out to a 10-point lead, but the Clippers would fight back and close the deficit to only three points entering the final quarter.
In the final 12 minutes, the Clippers would hit a rough patch of shooting to start the period, and the Spurs would again extend the lead to 10 points nearing the halfway point in the quarter. The home team would respond quickly by cutting the lead to only four points with five minutes to play at Staples Center.
Then, Popovich would choose to intentionally foul Jordan, and the Clippers' center missed his first three foul shots before draining his fourth free throw. With four minutes to play, the Clippers trailed by four points, but the Spurs would opt to foul Jordan again. This time, Jordan would hit both, and the Spurs and Clippers would suddenly be in a one-possession game. The "Hack-a-Jordan" did not appear to be helping the Spurs, as their 10-point lead evaporated.
After a parade to the free throw line, the Clippers would still trail by two points with three minutes to play. However, Manu Ginobili fouled out, and Tony Parker would not play down the stretch due to an Achilles issue. When J.J. Redick his a couple free throws with 2:03 to play, the Clippers and Spurs were level on the scoreboard.
Each team would take turns tasting the lead before Paul had a late look to win the game. His shot did not drop, and the two teams went to overtime.
In the overtime period, Parker's replacement, Patty Mills, starred with eight points, including four clutch free throws, that helped crush the Clippers' late overtime rally. Duncan would manage to play the entire extra period with five fouls. The face of the franchise for nearly two decades finished with 28 points, 11 rebounds and four assists in the game.
For the Clippers, Griffin finished with 29 points, 11 assists and 12 rebounds in 47 minutes, but his late turnovers troubled the forward in his postgame press conference. Griffin finished with five turnovers for the game, including three in the fourth quarter and overtime. Paul would finish with 21 points, seven assists and eight rebounds in 43 minutes, but the point guard dejectedly focused on his missed shot at the end of regulation.
Next, the Clippers and Spurs play Game Three on Friday.
Published at 10:15 PM PDT on Apr 22, 2015
Source: http://www.nbclosangeles.com/news/sports/Clippers-vs-Spurs-Game-2-301012661.html
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