Clippers Defy Odds, Overcome Massive Early Deficit to Outlast Spurs

Norman Powell, with a stellar 23-point performance, and Amir Coffey, who chipped in 21 points, led the Los Angeles Clippers to a thrilling recovery from an early 26-point shortfall, triumphing over the San Antonio Spurs 113-104 on Monday night. This marked their inaugural victory at the Intuit Dome. James Harden contributed 17 points, while Ivica Zubac delivered a strong double-double with 17 points and 13 rebounds.

This epic comeback ranks as the largest in Clippers’ history when considering deficits at the end of the first quarter, and is tied for third for comebacks from any point deficit since 1996, as per Sportradar.

Impressive Performances Despite the Loss for Spurs

Victor Wembanyama stood out for the Spurs with 24 points, 13 rebounds, and an impressive nine blocks, even as they played without their coach Gregg Popovich due to illness. Julian Champagnie also had a noteworthy performance, scoring 21 points. The Spurs initially had a commanding 40-14 lead at the close of the first quarter, but struggled to maintain this momentum.

Clippers’ Comeback and Key Turning Point

The Clippers managed to reduce the Spurs’ lead to eight by halftime, and further closed the gap to just four points entering the fourth quarter. This collapse represented the most significant blown lead for the Spurs at the end of the first quarter and the fourth-largest in the franchise’s history.

The key turning point arrived late in the game when the Clippers ignited a 33-9 run over a span of nine minutes, from late in the third quarter to the four-minute mark in the fourth. Powell’s critical 3-pointer with 7:25 left on the clock handed LA their first lead at 93-91. Coffey’s 3-pointer with 6:26 remaining sealed the victory for the Clippers at 96-93.

Key Statistics and Look Ahead

In the last 12 minutes of the game, the Clippers outpaced the Spurs 31-18. Despite the Spurs making 16 of 26 from the field in the first quarter, they only managed 22 of 60 for the rest of the game. On the other hand, the Clippers hit 19 of 37 on 3-pointers and secured a season-high 16 offensive rebounds.

Both teams return to the court on Wednesday, with the Spurs visiting Houston and the Clippers hosting Philadelphia. Paul George, a five-season veteran with the Clippers, is anticipated to match up against his former team for the first time.