San Antonio Spurs’ Tiago Splitter, center, of Brazil, scores as Los Angeles Clippers’ Willie Green, left, and Blake Griffin, right, defend him during the second half on an NBA basketball game, Saturday, Jan. 4, 2014, in San Antonio. San Antonio won 116-92. AP
SAN ANTONIO — San Antonio took advantage of Los Angeles being without injured All-Star Chris Paul and comfortably beat the Clippers 116-92 in Saturday’s clash of NBA divisional leaders.
The win moved the Spurs into equal second in the Western Conference standings, behind new leader Oklahoma City, which got a super performance from Kevin Durant in its comeback win over Minnesota and moved above Portland, which was narrowly beaten at home by Philadelphia.
San Antonio’s Tiago Splitter had 22 points before leaving with a shoulder injury and Tim Duncan added 19 points and 11 rebounds.
Jamal Crawford scored 24 points for the Clippers who missed Paul after he suffered a shoulder injury on Friday against Dallas.