Spurs Return Home Looking to End Skid Against Clippers
The San Antonio Spurs and Los Angeles Clippers are both seeking a bounce-back performance as they meet on Wednesday night in San Antonio. While the Spurs are aiming to solve their home-court struggles, the Clippers look to find consistency on the road in what promises to be an intriguing Western Conference showdown.
Clippers Look to Regain Momentum After Narrow Loss
The Clippers enter this game having lost three of their last five, including a heartbreaking 111-109 defeat against the Phoenix Suns on Monday. Los Angeles mounted an impressive late-game comeback, clawing back from an 11-point deficit in the final minutes. Norman Powell’s floater brought them within one point with 40.4 seconds remaining, but Phoenix closed the game at the free-throw line to secure the win.
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Head coach Tyronn Lue emphasized the team’s resilience despite the loss.
“Our physicality was better in the second half and that allowed us to put ourselves in a position to win at the end. We just kept fighting, kept fighting and just fell short.”
Ivica Zubac was a force inside, leading the Clippers with 25 points and 16 rebounds, while James Harden added 24 points. Powell provided a spark off the bench with 23 points, and Kawhi Leonard chipped in 17 in a season-high 28 minutes of action.
Lue acknowledged Leonard’s slow start but was encouraged by his second-half aggression.
“Leonard moved slow in the first half, but he picked it up in the third quarter, attacking the basket and getting into his spot. It’s going to be a process—just making sure Kawhi feels comfortable and that he trusts it.”
This game marks the second stop on a four-game road trip for the Clippers, which continues in Charlotte on Friday before concluding in Toronto on Sunday.
Spurs Return From Paris Looking to End Home Struggles
The Spurs are back in Texas after an eventful trip to Paris, where they split a pair of games against the Indiana Pacers. San Antonio started strong with a commanding 140-110 win last Thursday but followed it with a disappointing 136-98 loss on Saturday.
Harrison Barnes led the way with 25 points in the loss, while Victor Wembanyama recorded a double-double with 20 points and 12 rebounds. Rookie Stephon Castle added 17 points, and Chris Paul contributed 11 points along with eight assists.
San Antonio trailed by 15 at halftime and 12 after three quarters before running out of gas in the final period.
Paul, the veteran leader of the team, acknowledged the inconsistency and growing pains that have plagued the young squad.
“It’s a team game, and (there are) going to be games like this. Games are different from game to game. Every team in this league is always trying to put 48 minutes together. … Until we consistently put it all together, it’s gonna be tough. But we believe we can figure it out.”
The Spurs have now lost seven of their last nine games and continue to struggle at home, where they have dropped three straight. One of the biggest challenges has been finding consistent offensive production beyond Wembanyama. Over the past nine games, the young star has been the team’s leading scorer only three times.
Instead, other players such as Barnes, Devin Vassell, Castle, and Keldon Johnson have had to take turns leading the team in scoring. While this balance can be a positive, it has also highlighted the team’s lack of a go-to scorer outside of Wembanyama.
Previous Meetings and What to Expect
The Spurs and Clippers have already met twice this season, with each team winning on its home court. With San Antonio looking to end its recent home woes and Los Angeles aiming to establish momentum on the road, this game could go either way.
The Spurs need to show more consistency on both ends of the floor to compete against a battle-tested Clippers squad, while Los Angeles must avoid the slow starts that have plagued them in recent games.
Will the Spurs get back on track in front of their home crowd, or will the Clippers find their rhythm and take control? Wednesday night’s battle will reveal which team is better prepared to turn things around.