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Popovich Postgame Comments
Quick Takeaways
Kawhi was almost unguardable, made a huge impact defensively.
There was no answer for the Clippers play in the paint.
The first two minutes of the 3rd quarter ultimately decided this game. The Clippers hit San Antonio in the mouth
Los Angeles gets their 22nd win on the year, San Antonio falls to 11-17.
FINAL
Los Angeles Clippers: 134
San Antonio Spurs: 109
Q4 - 0:27
Kabengele, I assume, calls glass on his three-pointer.
Belinelli still chunking, nails an off-balance three to cut the lead to 25.
I'm sure this isn't just happening.
Q4 - 2:00
All-Name Team Nominee Mfiondu Kabengele grabs his first points of the game, sends us into a break in the action.
The Clippers have 19 dunks tonight.
Q4 - 4:24
Metu with a big dunk to get the Spurs over the century mark.
Q4 - 6:48
Montrezl Harrell receives a technical foul for trying to pull the shot clock down on a dunk attempt.
Q4 - 7:11
Lou Williams is still cooking, Harrell fights through the defense for a slam, and an and-one.
Q4 - 7:40
Kawhi Leonard: 26 Points, 9 Assists, 7 Rebounds, 4 Steals, 27 Minutes
Paul George: 11 Points, 11 Minutes
Ivica Zubac: 15 Points, 11-11 shooting so far
I'm doubtful that we will see Kawhi or Paul George for the rest of this game for the Clippers.
Q4 - 9:40
Lonnie Walker, who entered to rousing applause in the 3rd, scores and gets the crowd something to cheer about.
Looks like Pop is going to be giving his young guys a chance to play for the rest of this one.
A sense of the domination that the Clippers gave the Spurs
Zubac really turned the fortunes for the Clippers in the 3rd.
END OF 3RD QUARTER
Los Angeles Clippers: 110
San Antonio Spurs: 83
Q3 - 1:20
Harrell picks up another offensive board, adds to the Clipper lead. LA is now up by 27.
Q3 - 2:30
Leonard feeds Landry Shamet for three. The downpour continues
Zubac is bullying the Spurs down low. 14 points, 10 in the 3rd alone.
The Clippers are shooting 83% in the 3rd Quarter tonight.
Coyote gifts a Nintendo Switch to a young fan. The gifts keep pouring in for some lucky attendants.
Clippers are up to 56 points in the paint.
Q3 - 4:05
Spurs take a timeout, attempting to stop the bleeding.
Q3 - 4:28
Kawhi Leonard with consecutive offensive rebounds, finding Moe Harkless for a slam. Next possession, Clippers steal and Leonard puts it home.
Kawhi Leonard and Derrick White collide at midcourt going after a ball, White is shaken up a little.
Q3 - 5:37
Moe Harkless with a steal, a slam, and the fans are getting restless and the Spurs commentators are becoming more dejected.
Q3 - 6:52
Harkless skys for the dunk, nearly taking out all air from the building.
Q3 - 7:42
DeRozan with a euro step to get a tough basket. Kawhi responds with a layup of his own almost immediately.
Kawhi has been huge on both ends.
Q3 - 8:54
Beverley gets loose under the basket, Kawhi finds him. Clippers lead by 17.
Q3 - 9:30
Paul George gets hit, falls away, hits the basket. Nails the free throw to increase the Clippers lead to 18.
Derrius White names all nine of Santa's reindeer on the jumbotron.
Call Overturned
Beverley proves right, Rivers trusting in his guys pays off here.
Los Angeles has a 40-20 paint points edge against the Spurs so far.
Coaches Challenge
Patrick Beverley runs over to Doc Rivers emploring him to challenge his foul on Bryn Forbes
6 Quick Points to start the 2nd Half, and the Clippers have extended their lead.
Q3 - 11:42
Zubac starts off the 2nd Half with an easy slam. Not a good start for the Spurs
Kawhi's Shot Chart in the 1st Half
Los Angeles Clippers Key Stats
San Antonio Key Stats
DeRozan: 20 points
Aldridge: 10 points
53% FG, 37% 3FG
Outscored in the paint 34-20 v LAC
72 points are the most that the Spurs have allowed in a first-half this season.
END OF 2ND QUARTER
Los Angeles Clippers 72
San Antonio Spurs 61
Williams with a floater in the lane, and the Spurs can't convert at the other end to end the half.
Kawhi stuffs it back in. DeRozan knives his way through the defense.
Belinelli fumbles a pass at the rim, Clippers take it back for an easy score.
DeRozan is doing everything in his power to keep the Spurs in it. Attacks Zubac at the rim, makes the free throw along with it.
Forbes hits two free throws to cut the lead to 8. 2 minutes remaining in the 1st half.
Kawhi's first foul of the night brings the first cheers directed his way.
DeRozan has 15 for the Spurs.
Kawhi Leonard. Systematic. 16 points for the claw.
Kawhi finds Beverley for three, then steals it for an easy score. Clippers up 60-52.
Belinelli knocks down a three to keep the Spurs close. 55-49 with 4:44 to play.
Popovich, clearly unhappy with the call, picks up a tech and keeps Kawhi on the line. He nails the extra toss.
DeRozan picks up a flagrant 1 on Kawhi's drive. Grabbed a bit of the arm and drove him down. Kawhi knocks down the extra free throws.
Referees are looking for a flagrant foul on a Kawhi Leonard drive. He fell awkwardly, which sparked the review.
Doesn't matter for Aldridge, doing what he has for his entire career and hitting baseline jumpers.
Spurs are having trouble finding baskets at the rim. Clippers have been protecting the paint and making it tough for easy shots.
San Antonio is in the bonus for the rest of this half.
Coyote is going crazy giving out gifts tonight, handing a professional camera to another fan. The Season of Giving is happening at the AT&T Center.
Huge hustle play by Patrick Beverley to make that happen. Tapped the ball up twice to get over defenders, finds Lou for another triple.
Another triple for Lou Williams. Another timeout for the Spurs. Clippers lead 52-44 with 7 minutes remaining.
Aldridge running the floor to pick up a basket, but immediately leads to a Harrell slam for the Clippers.
Poeltl has been an absolute force on the defensive end tonight, but it comes with a price as he picks up his second foul.
San Antonio is shooting 63% so far in the game.
9:08 remaining in the 2nd Quarter. Williams has 9 for the Clippers.
Lou Williams hits another three to put the Clippers up one.
Jakob Poertly with another timely block, then sets a big screen to open up a shot for a teammate.
Landry Shamet is up to three quick fouls.
Patty Mills knocks down a three to tie it up. He's up to eight points
And Popovich wins it. Call was overturned and an offensive foul was called on Landry Shamet.
Pop is challenging a foul on a three-point attempt by the Clippers.
Gregg Popovich is challenging a call on the floor.
DeRozan is getting to the rim at ease early.
END OF 1ST QUARTER
Los Angeles Clippers 33
San Antonio Spurs 31
Poertl with a perimeter shot block of Lou Williams to start a transition basket for the Spurs.
Coyote gifts a young fan a Hover Board for Christmas to go with the Season of Giving the Spurs have been participating in.
Paul George has 8 points, and 2 rebounds
Paul George muscling his way to the basket, forcing Pop to call a timeout. 25-20 Clippers.
Leonard with a mean left-handed jam just to let the crowd know he means business tonight.
Kawhi Leonard is looking more comfortable in San Antonio. Nails a three in transition as the boos rain from the rafters.
Clippers are pushing the pace, getting open looks behind the three-point line.
Leonard has 4 quick points for the Clippers, DeRozan with 5 for the Spurs.
LA and Dejounte Murray play a little pick and pop to get Aldridge an open jumper, forcing Doc Rivers to take a quick timeout.
DeRozan feeling it early, with a nice up and under move to give the Spurs and early lead.
The Boo Birds are out for Kawhi Leonard as he nails a jumper.
DeRozan gets to his favorite spot on the floor and knocks down an And-1 Jumper.
And Patrick Beverley gets a foul within 2 seconds. The fouling continues from last game for the Clippers
Popovich is in the Christmas spirit: a red sweater under the suit coat.
Spurs lead the All-Time Series 129-43
Clippers Starters
Maurice Harkless
Ivca Zubac
Patrick Beverley
Kawhi Leonard
Paul George
San Antonio Spurs Starters
Trey Lyles
Bryn Forbes
Dejounte Murray
DeMar DeRozan
Lamarcus Aldridge
Elolf Elementary School Choir kicks us off in San Antonio.
Los Angeles Clippers Guard Landry Shamet previews tonight's matchup
San Antonio arrives for the home game.
Los Angeles is in the building
The Spurs getting warmed up
LA Clippers Jersey Reveal
Los Angeles will be rocking the ICON jerseys for tonight's matchup.
Pop gives some praise
Coach Gregg Popovich gives some praise of his young players before tonight's game.
Game Previews
PoundingtheRock.com previews the game here
How did San Antonio take advantage of their rest day?
With a little Christmas cheer. The Spurs gave some holiday cheer to families yesterday.
Rudy Gay came to DeRozan's defense, saying he is a "competitive guy and he wanted to be out there and you can’t fault him for that.”
DeMar DeRozan has been amongst trade rumors
Derozan has been the subject of trade rumors, and a benching with 4:46 remaining against the Rockets does nothing to quell those whispers.
Kawhi is winless in San Antonio as an opponent.
Kawhi is back in San Antonio
This is Kawhi's second trip back to San Antonio this year as a member of the Los Angeles Clippers. San Antonio won that matchup 107-97.
Spurs looked controlled against Brooklyn
San Antonio takes home court coming off a needed victory against the Brooklyn Nets. The Spurs bench added 63 points to the cause.
Clippers need to bounce back
Los Angeles is coming into the game after blowing a 15-point halftime lead against the Houston Rockets. Lou Williams and Patrick Beverley were both ejected from the game.
