060308 Spurs@Clippers Gamer
Web Posted: 03/08/2006 02:08 AM CST
Johnny Ludden
Express-News Staff Writer
LOS ANGELES — Such is the state of Los Angeles basketball these days: You can beat Kobe Bryant's Lakers and return to the Staples Center one night later to discover you have to play the varsity.
With a 98-85 loss to the Clippers on Tuesday evening, the
Spurs learned why Billy Crystal, not Jack Nicholson, now has courtside seats for the city's best NBA team.
Unable to complete an L.A. sweep, the
Spurs jetted to Phoenix, where they will take a day's rest before facing the Suns on Thursday.
Having struggled much of the season when playing on consecutive nights, the
Spurs were thankful they didn't have to board a plane following Monday's victory over the Lakers. Apparently, even the 40-minute bus ride from their Santa Monica hotel proved too exhausting.
Led by Elton Brand's 30 points, the Clippers overwhelmed the
Spurs in the second half, which was not unlike what the
Spurs did to Los Angeles' Other Team one night earlier.
After matching a franchise record with 10 second-half 3-pointers against the Lakers, the
Spurs went 5 of 17 behind the arc Tuesday. The Clippers, meanwhile, shot 59 percent in the second half.
“They were solid all along,” said
Tim Duncan, who had 16 points, seven rebounds and seven assists while spending much of the night with foul trouble. “That's kind of what killed us.
“We fought the whole way through, but they made shots when they needed to, made stops when they needed to. They just played better than us.”
The loss dropped the
Spurs into a tie with Dallas atop the West and gave them further incentive to finish first in the conference. If the playoffs started today, they would face the Lakers as the top seed. If they slip to No..4, they would draw the Clippers.
Before the game, Clippers coach Mike Dunleavy didn't sound too eager for such a matchup, either.
“They have all the components,” Dunleavy said of the Spurs. “Their Christmas list was answered. They've got a major low-post game. They've got a major penetrating point guard. They have all kinds of outside 3-point shooting.
“What else is there to want?”
Dunleavy also could have been describing his own team. Center Chris Kaman and Brand, who, in a sign of things to come, opened the game with a turnover over Duncan's head, provided a formidable tandem inside. Point guard Sam Cassell scored 12 of his 15 points in the second half while also distributing 11 assists.
One night after leaving early when Lakers point guard Smush Parker poked him in the right eye, Duncan was back on the floor, albeit without the pirate eye patch he had hoped to wear. Staying on the court proved more difficult.
The Clippers surged in front after Duncan went to the bench with 5:46 left in the third quarter after picking up his fourth foul on a charge call. Cassell, who had scored only three points in the first half, began to bully the Spurs' guards in the post. Brand tacked on another eight points to his total.
“It seemed like he didn't miss a shot,” Duncan said of Brand, who went 12 of 24.
After Vladimir Radmanovic drilled a 3-pointer on the opening possession of the fourth quarter, the
Spurs were in a 72-59 hole. They made a late run, drawing within nine, but
Tony Parker stepped out of bounds and the crowd started to file out the exits.
Duncan spent the final 7 minutes, 16 seconds of the second quarter on the bench after collecting his third foul. The Clippers failed to take advantage of his absence, and the
Spurs went into halftime with a 43-42 lead.
That was a small victory in itself. In addition to playing without Duncan for much of the second quarter, the
Spurs spotted the Clippers the game's first 10 points and attempted only three free throws to the Clippers' 19.
Dunleavy made containing Parker the top priority of his defense. Six-foot-six swingman Quinton Ross, Los Angeles' top perimeter defender, opened the game on Parker and 6-7 backup point guard Shaun Livingston also guarded him.
Parker missed five of his first six shots but played better in the second half, finishing with 20 points. Against the Lakers, that might have been good enough.
jludden@express-news.net
http://www.mysanantonio.com/sports/...er.3d89b1f.html