Clippers extend win streak to 4 with 138-100 rout of Spurs

Los Angeles, JA. 37 (US): If anyone needed any proof of how confident Paul George and the Los Angeles Clippers are, it came late in the second quarter of their game against the San Antonio Spurs.

George stole the ball from Zack Collins after a bad pass by Stanley Johnson, dribbled down the field and threw a windmill dunk to give the Clippers a 20-point advantage.

The dunk was part of a 35-point night for George as the Clippers extended their winning streak to a season-high four games with a 138-100 rout Thursday night, the Associated Press reports.

“My body was in really good shape, and I’ve been working a lot to stay healthy and keep that way,” said George, who is averaging 22.4 points after missing five games earlier this month due to a sore right hamstring. “Everything falls into place at this point. We’re healthy and starting to figure out our rotation.”

It was the fifth time this season that George had at least 35 points. It was 14 of 19 from the field, including 5 of 8 from outside the arc as the Clippers posted their largest winning margin since 2021. It was the 11th time since 2013 that they had won a game by at least 38 points.

Kawhi Leonard added 27 points and was 10-of-16 from the field.

“We just have to keep building. We’re going uphill, but we still have a long way to go, but I like where we are right now,” said Clippers head coach Tyrone Law.

Keldon Johnson scored 19 points for San Antonio, while Isaiah Roby had 14 and Keita Bates Diop 13. The Spurs have lost nine of their last 10 points and 12 of their last 14.

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“We played hard. We kicked our asses. Hopefully I learned a few things. Go home and start again,” said Tottenham manager Gregg Popovich.

It was the fifth time this season that San Antonio had lost a game by 35 or more points.

The Clippers have won seven of their past nine games against the Spurs and swept the four-game season series for the first time since 1996-97.

Los Angeles, who shot 58.4% from the field and made 18 three-pointers, led the entire game. His lead was double digits in the final 38 minutes and he was leading 41-25 at the end of the first quarter.

“When they’re hitting shots like they’re tonight and active in defence, that’s what makes them special,” Bates Diop said of George and Leonard.

road waste

San Antonio has lost for the 18th time in 23 road games and is down 10 straight away from home. This is the fifth time in franchise history that the Spurs have lost at least 10 consecutive road games in a season. The season’s longest road losing streak was 12 set during the 1985-1986 season.

Tottenham’s away loss total is 22 matches, starting in the 1988-89 season and extending into the following season.

Tip-ins

Tottenham: fell to 1-8 in the second game of a consecutive match. … Rookie Jeremy Suchan did not play after suffering a quad injury during the fourth quarter Wednesday.

Clippers: Luke Kennard is back in the lineup and had five points in 17 minutes. Kennard has missed 20 games this season with a right calf injury. … Marcus Morris Sr. did not play due to a rib bruise. … Norman Powell had 15 points off the bench and Robert Covington added 13. … Leonard made two 3-pointers to reach 900 points for his career.

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next one
Spurs: Go home to face the Phoenix Suns on Saturday.

Clippers: Start a six-game road trip Saturday against the Atlanta Hawks.




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