NBA-worst Clippers stun NBA-best Spurs 90-85

[December 03, 2010]  LOS ANGELES (AP) -- Blake Griffin had 31 points and 13 rebounds, Eric Gordon added 21 points and the Los Angeles Clippers ended an 18-game skid against the Spurs, beating San Antonio 90-85 Wednesday night.

Baron Davis had seven points and 10 assists in his return from a 10-game injury absence for the Clippers, who have the league's worst record at 4-15. They still beat the club with the NBA's best record for the second time in 10 days, following a similarly stunning win over New Orleans late last month.

George Hill scored 17 points and Manu Ginobili added 15 for the Spurs, who lost for just the second time in 16 games and dropped to 15-3 with their first road loss of the season after an 8-0 start away from San Antonio. Tim Duncan had just eight points, one night after posting a triple-double at Golden State.

The Clippers, who have won three of five after a 1-13 start, hadn't beaten the Spurs since March 7, 2006. San Antonio had won nine straight over Los Angeles at Staples Center.

Los Angeles took the lead with a 20-2 run spanning halftime and never lost the advantage despite a shaky fourth quarter that included six straight misses from the free throw line. Gordon scored seven points in the fourth.

San Antonio clearly had little energy in its legs after a three-game road trip, making just six of its 21 shots in the final period. Duncan was held scoreless, and Richard Jefferson getting just three of his 13 points in the final period.

Tony Parker had just two points on 1-for-6 shooting and sat out most of the second half for the Spurs, playing just 2:28 in the third quarter. Several celebrity news outlets reported he had lunch earlier Wednesday with his estranged actress wife, Eva Longoria, who filed for divorce last month.

Davis returned after sitting out all but 10 minutes of the Clippers' November schedule with a sore left knee. The fragile guard had missed 14 of Los Angeles' last 15 games, but he took over in the final minutes for rookie starter Eric Bledsoe, who managed just five points.

The Clippers are off to another awful start, but Griffin isn't their only sign of promise after winning the NBA's Western Conference rookie of the month award for November.

After a month full of fearsome dunks while winning his award, Griffin nearly added another spectacular highlight in the third quarter when he leaped from the middle of the key for a one-handed jam over Tiago Splitter that just barely bounced off the back of the rim. The 6-foot-10 forward made a graceful glide under the hoop for a behind-the-head layup on the Clippers' next possession.

San Antonio led 38-30 with 5 1/2 minutes left in the first half before the Clippers roared away on an 18-2 run led by three 3-pointers by Rasual Butler and two late baskets by Griffin. The Spurs missed 14 of their last 15 shots in the first half, including nine straight while falling behind 48-40.

NOTES: Clippers C Chris Kaman missed his 11th straight game with a sprained ankle. The club hasn't projected a firm return date for the former All-Star center. G Randy Foye also missed his second straight game with a strained left hamstring. ... The clubs concluded their season series with their third meeting. ... When Duncan fell to the court holding his foot in the second quarter after drawing a foul on an apparently clean block by Deandre Jordan, a fan near courtside screamed: "We know bad acting, Tim Duncan. This is L.A.!" ... Fans near courtside included director Penny Marshall and actress Sasha Grey.

[Associated Press; By GREG BEACHAM]

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