George, Leonard lead Clippers past Spurs 124-99, extending San Antonio's skid to 9 straight
SAN ANTONIO (AP) Paul George scored 28 points, Kawhi Leonard added 21 and the Los Angeles Clippers rolled past Victor Wembanyama and San Antonio 124-99 on Monday night, extending the Spurs’ losing streak to nine games.
James Harden added 13 points and 10 assists as Los Angeles won its sixth straight over San Antonio.
The Clippers won their second straight game with Harden after dropping their first five games with the All-Star guard in the lineup following a trade from Philadelphia.
“The more reps, the more you get comfortable,” Harden said. “The more you try to understand where guys’ spots are on the floor and where can I attack and get mine. As games go by, you see us get more comfortable.”
Wembanyama was held to nine points and three rebounds. Keldon Johnson had 22 points and 10 rebounds to lead San Antonio, and Cedi Osman scored 17 points.
“That’s an amazing team that we played tonight,” Johnson said. “Praying that everybody on their roster stays healthy, they will be contending, in a position to make some noise in the West.”
The Spurs’ losing streak matches the fifth longest in franchise history.
San Antonio set the franchise record last season by dropping 23 straight and finished with the third-worst record in franchise history at 22-60.
The futility helped the Spurs earn the No. 1 pick, which they used to select the new cornerstone of the franchise in the 7-foot-3 Wembanyama.
Leonard was once the face of the Spurs, the bridge between the Big Three era of Tim Duncan, Tony Parker and Manu Ginobili and the future. That changed when Leonard demanded and was granted a trade, getting shipped to Toronto in 2018.
Spurs fans have not forgotten and booed Leonard every time he touched the ball.
“It’s a completive fanbase,” Leonard said. “They want to win every game. Once I come into the game, there’s going to be boos, but walking around the city or going to restaurants, they show love.”
Leonard and the Clippers gave the fans plenty to jeer about Monday.
The Clippers finished with 30 assists and only seven turnovers in handing the Spurs their sixth double-digit loss this season.
The Clippers also held Wembanyama to 4-for-12 shooting, including missing all four of his 3-point attempts.
San Antonio suffered its second-worst loss of the season, 123-83, to the Clippers on Oct. 29. The Clippers were on track for a similar path in the second half after a competitive first two quarters.
“I am totally pleased with the game,” Spurs coach Gregg Popovich said. “Nobody likes to lose, but I thought their competitiveness and their execution were good. Against a very good, very talented, very well-coached team. So, I will sleep well. We’ll look at the film. We’ll continue tomorrow. But I like a lot of things that I saw, individually and team (wise).”
A dunk by Leonard and a layup off a no-look feed from Harden extended the Clippers’ lead to 86-66 with 4:37 remaining in the third quarter. The Clippers extended that lead to 28 points before emptying their bench midway through the fourth.
San Antonio has trailed by 15 points or more eight games this season and by 20 in six contests. The Spurs have rallied to win just once.
George had to exit after being poked in the eye by Wembanyama on the Clippers’ first possession. He returned midway through the first and finished 11 for 16 from the field and 4 for 8 on 3-pointers.
Spurs starting guard Devin Vassell missed the game with a strained groin.
UP NEXT
The teams close a two-game set at San Antonio on Wednesday.
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Time | Team | Play | Score | |
---|---|---|---|---|
12:00 | Ivica Zubac vs. Victor Wembanyama (Zach Collins gains possession) | |||
11:40 | Zach Collins misses two point turnaround bank hook shot | |||
11:38 | Terance Mann defensive rebound | |||
11:26 | Victor Wembanyama personal foul (Paul George draws the foul) | |||
11:19 | James Harden misses three point stepback jump shot | |||
11:16 | Keldon Johnson defensive rebound | |||
11:05 | +2 | Victor Wembanyama makes two point jump shot (Keldon Johnson assists) | 0-2 | |
10:49 | Kawhi Leonard misses two point driving floating jump shot | |||
10:46 | Jeremy Sochan defensive rebound | |||
10:36 | Zach Collins misses three point jump shot | |||
10:33 | Terance Mann defensive rebound | |||
10:20 | Norman Powell misses three point jump shot | |||
10:18 | Ivica Zubac offensive rebound | |||
10:07 | +2 | Norman Powell makes two point fadeaway jump shot (Terance Mann assists) | 2-2 | |
9:52 | Jeremy Sochan misses two point pullup bank jump shot | |||
9:49 | Jeremy Sochan offensive rebound | |||
9:44 | Victor Wembanyama misses three point bank jump shot | |||
9:42 | Ivica Zubac defensive rebound | |||
9:34 | Terance Mann misses three point pullup jump shot | |||
9:31 | Kawhi Leonard offensive rebound | |||
9:22 | +2 | James Harden makes two point driving floating jump shot | 4-2 | |
8:57 | Jeremy Sochan misses three point jump shot | |||
8:54 | Norman Powell defensive rebound | |||
8:46 | Norman Powell misses two point driving floating jump shot | |||
8:44 | Victor Wembanyama defensive rebound | |||
8:36 | +2 | Zach Collins makes two point floating jump shot (Victor Wembanyama assists) | 4-4 | |
8:12 | Kawhi Leonard misses three point jump shot | |||
8:09 | Keldon Johnson defensive rebound | |||
8:02 | +3 | Julian Champagnie makes three point jump shot (Keldon Johnson assists) | 4-7 | |
7:45 | Victor Wembanyama blocks James Harden's two point driving layup | |||
7:45 | Clippers offensive rebound | |||
7:43 | Kawhi Leonard misses two point jump shot | |||
7:40 | Keldon Johnson defensive rebound | |||
7:32 | Zach Collins turnover (lost ball) (Terance Mann steals) | |||
7:24 | +3 | Paul George makes three point jump shot (Kawhi Leonard assists) | 7-7 | |
7:04 | +2 | Victor Wembanyama makes two point fadeaway jump shot | 7-9 | |
6:51 | +3 | Kawhi Leonard makes three point jump shot (James Harden assists) | 10-9 | |
6:50 | Spurs 60 second timeout | |||
6:30 | Julian Champagnie misses three point jump shot | |||
6:27 | Jeremy Sochan offensive rebound | |||
6:25 | +2 | Jeremy Sochan makes two point turnaround jump shot | 10-11 | |
6:08 | +2 | Ivica Zubac makes two point dunk (James Harden assists) | 12-11 | |
5:52 | +2 | Zach Collins makes two point jump shot (Julian Champagnie assists) | 12-13 | |
5:27 | Julian Champagnie shooting foul (James Harden draws the foul) | |||
5:27 | +1 | James Harden makes regular free throw 1 of 3 | 13-13 | |
5:27 | +1 | James Harden makes regular free throw 2 of 3 | 14-13 | |
5:27 | +1 | James Harden makes regular free throw 3 of 3 | 15-13 | |
5:10 | +3 | Cedi Osman makes three point jump shot (Tre Jones assists) | 15-16 | |
4:49 | Russell Westbrook misses two point pullup bank jump shot | |||
4:48 | Cedi Osman defensive rebound | |||
4:32 | Keldon Johnson misses three point jump shot | |||
4:28 | Ivica Zubac defensive rebound | |||
4:22 | +2 | Paul George makes two point pullup jump shot | 17-16 | |
4:06 | Jeremy Sochan misses two point pullup jump shot | |||
4:03 | Russell Westbrook defensive rebound | |||
3:49 | Russell Westbrook misses three point jump shot | |||
3:46 | Jeremy Sochan defensive rebound | |||
3:39 | Jeremy Sochan misses two point driving layup | |||
3:37 | Charles Bassey offensive rebound | |||
3:37 | +3 | Tre Jones makes three point jump shot (Charles Bassey assists) | 17-19 | |
3:35 | Clippers 60 second timeout | |||
3:21 | +2 | Kawhi Leonard makes two point pullup jump shot (James Harden assists) | 19-19 | |
3:05 | Charles Bassey turnover (bad pass) (Russell Westbrook steals) | |||
2:59 | +2 | Daniel Theis makes two point running jump shot (Russell Westbrook assists) | 21-19 | |
2:48 | James Harden kicked ball violation | |||
2:34 | Cedi Osman misses three point bank jump shot | |||
2:31 | James Harden defensive rebound | |||
2:25 | Kawhi Leonard misses three point jump shot | |||
2:20 | Keldon Johnson defensive rebound | |||
2:17 | Tre Jones misses three point running jump shot | |||
2:13 | Daniel Theis defensive rebound | |||
2:01 | Charles Bassey shooting foul (Daniel Theis draws the foul) | |||
2:01 | +1 | Daniel Theis makes regular free throw 1 of 2 | 22-19 | |
2:01 | +1 | Daniel Theis makes regular free throw 2 of 2 | 23-19 | |
1:47 | Daniel Theis shooting foul (Tre Jones draws the foul) | |||
1:47 | +1 | Tre Jones makes regular free throw 1 of 2 | 23-20 | |
1:47 | +1 | Tre Jones makes regular free throw 2 of 2 | 23-21 | |
1:35 | +3 | Kawhi Leonard makes three point jump shot (James Harden assists) | 26-21 | |
1:25 | +2 | Cedi Osman makes two point driving hook shot | 26-23 | |
1:07 | +2 | Daniel Theis makes two point cutting layup (James Harden assists) | 28-23 | |
0:49 | +2 | Malaki Branham makes two point pullup jump shot | 28-25 | |
0:35 | +2 | Russell Westbrook makes two point cutting dunk (Daniel Theis assists) | 30-25 | |
0:30 | Tre Jones misses two point driving layup | |||
0:28 | Norman Powell defensive rebound | |||
0:05 | Malaki Branham shooting foul (Norman Powell draws the foul) | |||
0:05 | +1 | Norman Powell makes regular free throw 1 of 3 | 31-25 | |
0:05 | +1 | Norman Powell makes regular free throw 2 of 3 | 32-25 | |
0:05 | +1 | Norman Powell makes regular free throw 3 of 3 | 33-25 | |
0:01 | +2 | Cedi Osman makes two point driving floating bank jump shot | 33-27 | |
0:01 | Norman Powell misses three point pullup jump shot | |||
0:01 | Clippers offensive rebound | |||
0:00 | End of period |
Time | Team | Play | Score | |
---|---|---|---|---|
11:50 | Malaki Branham shooting foul (Russell Westbrook draws the foul) | |||
11:50 | +1 | Russell Westbrook makes regular free throw 1 of 2 | 34-27 | |
11:50 | +1 | Russell Westbrook makes regular free throw 2 of 2 | 35-27 | |
11:37 | P.J. Tucker personal foul (Zach Collins draws the foul) | |||
11:29 | Victor Wembanyama misses three point stepback jump shot | |||
11:25 | Paul George defensive rebound | |||
11:18 | +2 | Russell Westbrook makes two point turnaround bank jump shot | 37-27 | |
11:01 | Zach Collins misses three point jump shot | |||
10:58 | Norman Powell defensive rebound | |||
10:48 | Paul George misses three point stepback jump shot | |||
10:44 | Zach Collins defensive rebound | |||
10:36 | +3 | Malaki Branham makes three point jump shot (Tre Jones assists) | 37-30 | |
10:10 | Daniel Theis misses two point jump shot | |||
10:06 | Cedi Osman defensive rebound | |||
10:02 | +2 | Tre Jones makes two point running pullup jump shot | 37-32 | |
10:02 | Clippers 60 second timeout | |||
9:43 | +2 | Russell Westbrook makes two point driving layup | 39-32 | |
9:23 | Russell Westbrook shooting foul (Zach Collins draws the foul) | |||
9:23 | +1 | Zach Collins makes regular free throw 1 of 2 | 39-33 | |
9:23 | Zach Collins misses regular free throw 2 of 2 | |||
9:21 | P.J. Tucker defensive rebound | |||
9:09 | Paul George turnover (bad pass) (Zach Collins steals) | |||
9:05 | +2 | Victor Wembanyama makes two point running layup (Tre Jones assists) | 39-35 | |
8:53 | +3 | Norman Powell makes three point jump shot (Paul George assists) | 42-35 | |
8:42 | +2 | Malaki Branham makes two point driving floating jump shot (Tre Jones assists) | 42-37 | |
8:30 | +3 | Paul George makes three point pullup jump shot | 45-37 | |
8:29 | Spurs 60 second timeout | |||
8:14 | +2 | Jeremy Sochan makes two point pullup jump shot | 45-39 | |
7:56 | +2 | Daniel Theis makes two point floating jump shot (Paul George assists) | 47-39 | |
7:41 | Malaki Branham turnover (lost ball) (Daniel Theis steals) | |||
7:31 | Russell Westbrook misses two point pullup bank jump shot | |||
7:28 | Doug McDermott defensive rebound | |||
7:07 | Jeremy Sochan misses two point turnaround jump shot | |||
7:05 | Daniel Theis defensive rebound | |||
6:57 | +3 | Daniel Theis makes three point jump shot (Paul George assists) | 50-39 | |
6:38 | Julian Champagnie misses three point jump shot | |||
6:34 | P.J. Tucker defensive rebound | |||
6:28 | Julian Champagnie shooting foul (Norman Powell draws the foul) | |||
6:28 | +1 | Norman Powell makes regular free throw 1 of 3 | 51-39 | |
6:28 | +1 | Norman Powell makes regular free throw 2 of 3 | 52-39 | |
6:28 | +1 | Norman Powell makes regular free throw 3 of 3 | 53-39 | |
6:12 | Zach Collins misses two point driving layup | |||
6:09 | Ivica Zubac defensive rebound | |||
6:09 | Doug McDermott shooting foul (Russell Westbrook draws the foul) | |||
6:09 | Russell Westbrook misses regular free throw 1 of 2 | |||
6:09 | Clippers offensive rebound | |||
6:09 | Russell Westbrook misses regular free throw 2 of 2 | |||
6:07 | Keldon Johnson defensive rebound | |||
5:54 | Charles Bassey turnover (out of bounds bad pass) | |||
5:44 | Terance Mann misses two point pullup jump shot | |||
5:40 | Julian Champagnie defensive rebound | |||
5:33 | Julian Champagnie misses two point running layup | |||
5:30 | Charles Bassey offensive rebound | |||
5:30 | Charles Bassey misses two point floating jump shot | |||
5:29 | Terance Mann defensive rebound | |||
5:21 | Charles Bassey blocks Russell Westbrook's two point driving finger roll layup | |||
5:18 | Charles Bassey defensive rebound | |||
5:12 | Keldon Johnson misses three point running jump shot | |||
5:10 | Charles Bassey offensive rebound | |||
5:08 | +3 | Doug McDermott makes three point jump shot (Charles Bassey assists) | 53-42 | |
4:50 | Charles Bassey blocks Ivica Zubac's two point layup | |||
4:47 | Doug McDermott defensive rebound | |||
4:45 | +2 | Keldon Johnson makes two point running layup (Doug McDermott assists) | 53-44 | |
4:35 | Paul George misses three point pullup jump shot | |||
4:32 | Jeremy Sochan defensive rebound | |||
4:22 | +2 | Keldon Johnson makes two point pullup jump shot (Doug McDermott assists) | 53-46 | |
4:21 | Clippers 60 second timeout | |||
4:02 | Charles Bassey blocks Ivica Zubac's two point turnaround hook shot | |||
3:57 | Keldon Johnson defensive rebound | |||