Spurs end skid with triumph over Clippers
San Antonio Spurs guard Patty Mills (8) and center Jakob Poeltl (25) celebrate the 116-113 victory against the Los Angeles Clippers at Staples Center on January 5, 2021. Mandatory Credit: Gary A. Vasquez-USA TODAY Sports
Patty Mills scored 27 points off the bench, and the San Antonio Spurs snapped a four-game losing streak with a 116-113 victory over the host Los Angeles Clippers on Tuesday.
Mills hit 8-of-12 3-pointers for the Spurs. Dejounte Murray had 21 points and LaMarcus Aldridge, who returned from a three-game absence after a knee injury, added 14 points and six rebounds for San Antonio. Rudy Gay had 16 points and Devin Vassell scored 12.
Kawhi Leonard had 30 points and 10 assists for the Clippers, who played without Paul George (ankle). Nicolas Batum contributed 21 points and Patrick Beverley scored 20 points, making six 3-pointers. Lou Williams chipped in 15.
A layup by Beverley and two free throws by Batum allowed the Clippers to close within 115-113 with 47.4 seconds remaining. After Clippers guard Luke Kennard missed a 3-pointer, Mills made one of two free throws with 5.7 seconds left to cap the scoring.
Leonard misfired on a 3-pointer before the final horn.
Los Angeles opened the third on a 21-8 run after a 3-pointer by Beverley to slice the margin to 71-65 with 6:57 left in the quarter. After the Spurs increased the deficit to double digits again about a minute later, the Clippers rallied and pulled within 85-84 heading into the final quarter after a 3-point shot by Williams.
The Clippers outscored the Spurs 40-22 in the third.
In the second quarter, a 28-3 surge boosted the Spurs to a 54-30 lead after a layup by Lonnie Walker IV with 5:45 left. By the end of the half, the Spurs led 63-44.
San Antonio relied upon its 3-point shooting in the first half, connecting on 11 of 21 attempts (52.4 percent) to 3 of 17 (17.6 percent) for the Clippers.
Overall, the Spurs hit 20 of 40 3-pointers (50 percent) compared to 15 of 35 (42.9 percent) for the Clippers.
