The Spurs erased the memory of last season's embarrassing first-round ouster by dispatching the Utah Jazz in four games. The Clippers needed seven to finish off Memphis.
Los Angeles is a much younger, more athletic team, but they're also seriously banged-up. Chris Paul is nursing a hip problem, Mo Williams has a finger injury, Caron Butler is playing with a broken hand and Blake Griffin has a bum knee. Griffin's injury may be the biggest worry for Clippers coach Vinny Del Negro; the all-star forward was limited to under two minutes in the series-clinching win over Memphis on Sunday.
The Spurs, on the other hand, are healthy and well-rested. When's the last time anyone said that about Gregg Popovich's veteran squad?
Games three and four are scheduled as a back-to-back on the Clippers' home court. The NBA doesn't usually schedule games on consecutive nights during the playoffs, but this season's lockout-compressed schedule - and the fact that the Clippers and Lakers share the Staples Center - forced the league's hand. The back-to-back probably doesn't create a major advantage for either squad - it certainly won't help the Clippers recover from all their injuries, but the home-court edge should mitigate that to some extent.
San Antonio won the season series over Los Angeles, 2-1.
Prediction: Spurs in five.
Chris Paul and Blake Griffin - nursing injuries suffered in their first-round series against Memphis - still seem to be feeling the effects. The Clipper stars combined to shoot 10 for 33 from the floor with eight turnovers.More »
Clippers stars Chris Paul and Blake Griffin continued to struggle. Paul was limited by foul trouble and finished with 10 points, five assists and eight turnovers. Griffin had a team-high 20 points, but just one rebound.More »
Whatever Gregg Popovich did to keep Tim Duncan fresh for the playoffs, it's working perfectly. Duncan scored 19 points on 50 percent (8-for-16) shooting, and grabbed 13 rebounds, handed out four assists and three blocked shots. Blake Griffin looked like himself for the first time this series, scoring 28 points with 16 rebounds. But Chris Paul continues to struggle - due in part to a hip injury.More »
The game was close. The series wasn't.
Chris Paul had two chances to get the Clippers back in the lead in the final seconds, but was foiled by Danny Green's excellent defense. Green and Tony Parker hit free throws to extend the Spurs' lead to three, and Mo Williams was unable to get a desperation three off at the buzzer.
The Spurs have now won eight straight playoff games and 18 straight overall. They await the winner of the Lakers/Thunder series.
Spurs win series, 4-0More »
Los Angeles is a much younger, more athletic team, but they're also seriously banged-up. Chris Paul is nursing a hip problem, Mo Williams has a finger injury, Caron Butler is playing with a broken hand and Blake Griffin has a bum knee. Griffin's injury may be the biggest worry for Clippers coach Vinny Del Negro; the all-star forward was limited to under two minutes in the series-clinching win over Memphis on Sunday.
The Spurs, on the other hand, are healthy and well-rested. When's the last time anyone said that about Gregg Popovich's veteran squad?
Games three and four are scheduled as a back-to-back on the Clippers' home court. The NBA doesn't usually schedule games on consecutive nights during the playoffs, but this season's lockout-compressed schedule - and the fact that the Clippers and Lakers share the Staples Center - forced the league's hand. The back-to-back probably doesn't create a major advantage for either squad - it certainly won't help the Clippers recover from all their injuries, but the home-court edge should mitigate that to some extent.
San Antonio won the season series over Los Angeles, 2-1.
Prediction: Spurs in five.
Series Schedule and Results
1. Game One: Spurs 108, Clippers 92
Even after a long layoff, the Spurs kept up their momentum, dominating the Clippers in Game One just as they dominated Utah in the first round. Tim Duncan scored 26 points and grabbed 10 boards to lead San Antonio.Chris Paul and Blake Griffin - nursing injuries suffered in their first-round series against Memphis - still seem to be feeling the effects. The Clipper stars combined to shoot 10 for 33 from the floor with eight turnovers.More »
2. Game Two: Spurs 105, Clippers 88
Tony Parker scored 22 points and Tim Duncan added 18 as the Spurs rolled to another easy win over the Clippers. San Antonio has a 2-0 series lead as play shifts to Los Angeles for Game Three.Clippers stars Chris Paul and Blake Griffin continued to struggle. Paul was limited by foul trouble and finished with 10 points, five assists and eight turnovers. Griffin had a team-high 20 points, but just one rebound.More »
3. Game Three: Spurs 96, Clippers 86
The Clippers led by as many as 24 points. The Spurs had the only lead that ever really matters - the final score - rallying for a 96-86 win and 3-0 series lead.Whatever Gregg Popovich did to keep Tim Duncan fresh for the playoffs, it's working perfectly. Duncan scored 19 points on 50 percent (8-for-16) shooting, and grabbed 13 rebounds, handed out four assists and three blocked shots. Blake Griffin looked like himself for the first time this series, scoring 28 points with 16 rebounds. But Chris Paul continues to struggle - due in part to a hip injury.More »
4. Game Four: Spurs 102, Clippers 99
The game was close. The series wasn't.
Chris Paul had two chances to get the Clippers back in the lead in the final seconds, but was foiled by Danny Green's excellent defense. Green and Tony Parker hit free throws to extend the Spurs' lead to three, and Mo Williams was unable to get a desperation three off at the buzzer.
The Spurs have now won eight straight playoff games and 18 straight overall. They await the winner of the Lakers/Thunder series.
Spurs win series, 4-0More »
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