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 "I think a lot of us got our strength from Monty, really," the Los
Angeles Clippers coach said after hearing Williams, an Oklahoma City
Thunder assistant coach, eulogize his wife earlier Thursday. "It was
probably the best speech I have ever heard, especially in the
circumstances that he was going through, and still has to go
through. It's not over for him. He has five kids."
Point guard Chris Paul scored 26 of his 28 points in the second
half, and the Clippers snapped the San Antonio Spurs' six-game
winning streak with a 105-86 victory Thursday night at Staples
Center.
The game was practically an afterthought. Rivers, Spurs coach Gregg
Popovich and several players from both clubs started the day in
Oklahoma City, where funeral services were held for Ingrid Williams,
who died Feb. 11 from injuries sustained in a car crash a day
earlier. Williams delivered a heart-felt speech at the service.
"There was so much support by the NBA, 'Pop,' all the Spurs -- Tim
Duncan, David West and LaMarcus Aldridge, Chris Paul, all of the
(New Orleans) Pelicans and the Thunder," Rivers said. "It was almost
a celebration, but obviously for sad reasons."
The emotions of the funeral and the impact of Ingrid Williams'
tragic death combined with this being the clubs' first game since
the All-Star break seemed to carry over. The teams combined for 76
points and 21 turnovers in the first half, 14 of the giveaways by
the Clippers. Los Angeles would finish with 20 turnovers to 16 for
San Antonio, but Paul guided the Clippers to a win with a solid
second half.
"He made timely shots," Aldridge said of Paul. "He got guys to their
spots, and made good passes as he always does. He definitely took
over (for) his team in the fourth."
Paul also had 12 assists as the Clippers (36-18) won for the eighth
time in 10 games. Los Angeles guard Jamal Crawford had 19 points,
and guard J.J. Redick added 17.
Point guard Tony Parker scored 14 points, forward David West had 12
and Aldridge chipped in 10 points for the Spurs, who played without
All-Star forward Kawhi Leonard.
"No excuses," Aldridge said. "We just had one of those nights where
guys didn't play as good as they should have."
Leonard, the club's leading scorer at 20.2 points per game, was a
late scratch due to tightness in his left calf. Kyle Anderson, who
had eight points, started in his place for the Spurs (45-9).
Duncan finished with two points on 1-of-6 shooting and six rebounds
in 20 minutes. He left without speaking to reporters.
The Clippers held a 42-34 edge at halftime. A 14-4 run to open the
third quarter gave Los Angeles a 56-38 advantage after two free
throws by forward Paul Pierce at 7:41. The Clippers increased the
margin to as much as 20 before the Spurs sliced the deficit to 72-63
heading into the fourth quarter.
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After a bucket by Anderson pulled San Antonio within 77-71 with 9:06
left in the contest, the Clippers went on a 21-6 surge to seal the
outcome.
"Guys have to play better," Popovich said. "David West had a pretty
good game. Kyle Anderson had a pretty good game. Everybody else was
pretty poor. That is not going to get it done in the NBA. More guys
have to play well, that is the bottom line."
The Clippers outshot the Spurs 50 percent to 42.2 percent. They also
made 12 of 25 3-pointers (48 percent) to only four of 17 (23.5
percent) for the Spurs.
"They were down guys, we were down guys," said Clippers center
DeAndre Jordan, who had a game-high 17 rebounds and added nine
points and three steals. "We just made shots, but it's the first
time after the All-Star break, teams are going to be a little rusty.
We just have to continue to get better as the postseason nears."
The Clippers announced shortly before tip-off that they acquired
forward Jeff Green from the Memphis Grizzlies in exchange for guard
Lance Stephenson and a future protected first-round pick. The
6-foot-9 Green, who averaged 12.2 points and four rebounds in 53
games (51 starts) with Memphis, played under Rivers from 2011-2013
with the Boston Celtics.
NOTES: Injured Clippers F Blake Griffin (partially torn quad
tendon/right hand fracture) sat on the bench in street clothes. It
was his first appearance at Staples Center since punching Matias
Testi, the club's assistant equipment manager, in a Jan. 23 incident
in Toronto. Testi sat behind the Clippers' bench. ... The Spurs face
the Los Angeles Lakers on Friday at Staples Center, while the
Clippers host the Golden State Warriors on Saturday.
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