 in their worst start in 23 seasons.“Everybody, right down the line, everybody was aggressive, picking up the way we need to,” San Antonio coach Gregg Popovich said. “We just need to do it more often and get more consistent.”Leonard received a chorus of boos during pregame introductions and whenever he touched the ball. The level of vitriol increased throughout the game, especially with the Spurs having by far their best game of the season.Leonard missed his first three shots before collecting a steal at the free-throw line and sprinting down court for an uncontested dunk as the Clippers led by as many as eight points in the first quarter.Marco Belinelli helped the Spurs move in front, making a 3-pointer and a no-look pass to Trey Lyles for a 32-30 lead with 11 minutes remaining in the first half.“We had a couple stretches tonight where we just put runs together,” Spurs center Jakob Poeltl said. “Really came out strong with energy on the defensive end. Then all of a sudden, the shots start falling and it really got us going.”Poeltl, who was acquired by San Antonio in the Leonard deal, continued the momentum with four points and three blocks in a pivotal run in the second quarter, including two blocks on Leonard that drew deafening cheers.“Whenever one guy hustles, makes a big play, that ignites us on the bench and on the floor and gets our crowd going,” said DeRozan, who also came over in the Leonard trade.Patty Mills’ 3-pointer with 10:32 remaining gave the Spurs an 81-71 lead, prompting a timeout from the Clippers. The Spurs made five 3-pointers in the final quarter, going 14 for 36 from beyond the arc for the game.DeRozan had 15 points, and Poeltl had six points, six rebounds and four blocked shots.Paul George had a season-low five points on 2-for-11 shooting for the Clippers.INSULT TO INJURYClippers coach Doc Rivers was locked out of the locker room after finishing his postgame press conference.“Fitting,” Rivers deadpanned. “That’s the kind of night it’s been for us.”KEEP SHOOTINGPopovich has encouraged White to shoot 3-pointers even though he has struggled at times this season. White responded with a career-high five on 5-for-7 shooting from deep.“I think I’m going to take like 20 next game,” White said. “Just try to get the looks that I get, let it fly, shoot with confidence.”TIP-INSClippers: Landry Shamet missed his 10th straight game with a sprained left ankle. Shamet, who has started all 10 games he has played, is averaging 9.1 points in 29.4 minutes.Spurs: The Spurs played their 700th game at the AT&T Center since it opened in 2002. They have the most wins at home of any team during that span with 564 victories.UP NEXTClippers: Host Washington on Saturday night.Spurs: At Detroit on Saturday night.---More NBA: https://apnews.com/NBA and https://twitter.com/-Sports)
Nov 28, 2019Kawhi Leonard will return to San Antonio for just the second time in the past two years when the Spurs host the new-look Los Angeles Clippers on Friday.The Spurs have bigger concerns than worrying just about Leonard, once the Alamo City's favorite son before a trade to Toronto last year and his free-agent signing with the Clippers before the season.San Antonio has lost 10 of its past 11 games including Wednesday's 113-101 setback at home to Minnesota.The Spurs (6-13) have gone 2-11 since beginning the season 4-2. San Antonio has dropped two straight since snapping an eight-game losing streak, its longest since the 1996-97 season, on the road last Saturday against the Knicks.Wednesday's loss, San Antonio's fifth straight at home, was doomed by a 5-of-29 shooting performance from 3-point territory and poor defense in the final quarter. LaMarcus Aldridge and DeMar DeRozan led the Spurs' scoring with 22 and 20 points, respectively."Both teams are going to make mistakes defensively, but we have to be perfect defensively if we are going to shoot like that," Spurs coach Gregg Popovich said. "I felt (the players') effort was really good, and they got physical and we got after it." One of the highlights for San Antonio in the loss to Minnesota was the play of second-year guard Lonnie Walker IV, who scored a season-high 11 points."Lonnie was fantastic," Popovich said. "He has kept himself ready and we gave him a shot to play tonight and, obviously, he was up to the challenge. He did a really good job." The Clippers head to the Alamo City on the heels of a 121-119 win in Memphis on Wednesday that was accomplished without Leonard, who continues to sit out the second half of back-to-back games to protect his left knee.It was the seventh straight win for the Clippers (14-5).Los Angeles trailed by 10 points midway through the fourth quarter but rallied with crucial 3-pointers by Paul George and Patrick Beverley, before Montrezl Harrell tipped in the game-winner with 2.3 seconds remaining.The Clippers battled back behind their reserves as Harrell had 24 points and 10 rebounds, and Lou Williams scored 24 points."It's just fantastic," Clippers coach Doc Rivers said about having Harrell and Williams off his bench. "It's like you have the ultimate relief pitchers coming in the game." George added 22 points, highlighted by his second 3-pointer of the final 4:10 that gave Los Angeles its first lead of the fourth quarter."We don't panic, we run our stuff," Rivers said. "We're a gritty basketball team. I just thought you let a team (the Grizzlies) that hasn't been winning hang around, they start to smell it. We talked about it before the game. Obviously, no one heard it." The Clippers complete a three-game road trip in San Antonio on Friday night.The Spurs own a 128-43 all-time edge on Los Angeles, but the Clippers defeated San Antonio 103-97 in L. A. when the two teams played for the first time this season.--Field Level Media
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