Balanced Shooting Spurs San Antonio Second Half Come Back Over Clippers 106-84

Posted by Jeff Sack under NBA Game Recap

The San Antonio Spurs shot 51.2% (44-86) from the floor Thursday, and they took away a slim Los Angeles Clippers lead at the half to turn the game into a second half blow-out trouncing the Clippers 106-84. Tony Parker led the attack for San Antonio, as Tim Duncan had a rare quite night scoring only 8 points. It was the ninth straight loss for the other team that plays in the Staples Center, as they are without Baron Davis, Chris Kaman, and Zach Randolph all due to injury.

Rebuild number 9,736 for the Los Angeles Clippers has not worked out well so far this season, and shows no signs of getting better any time soon. Clippers head coach Mike Dunleavy seems to have adopted a permanent expression on his face, that looks like he is reacting to finding out somebody just stole money out of his back pocket. Dunleavy had grand visions of a team that featured Baron Davis, Chris Kaman, and Elton Brand. All three playersare currently out with injuries, but only two are members of the Clippers, Brand signing as a free agent with the Philadelphia 76ers this past Summer.

What the Clippers are right now are pretty much a hodge-podge; a couple of very talented young players in rookie Eric Gordon and forward Al Thornton. You have a center in Kaman who finally looked like last season he was starting to fulfill the potential the Clippers saw in him when they drafted him. He has not been able to show much of his game this season, because he has been out with injuries since late November.

The Baron, who is also injured right now, would be the ideal point guard for a team on the verge of making a deep run in the playoffs. That is not going to happen with the Clippers any time soon. Veteran forward Marcus Camby would be the perfect guy to put either Boston or Cleveland over the top, his $10 million dollar contract probably would not be doable for Boston. Cleveland could offer up another expiring contract in Wally Szczerbiak but he is making over $13 million, over the 20% difference allowed in the C.B.A. probably dooming that deal. They also have two talented players with not the greatest of reps in Zach Randolph and Ricky Davis that are in the mix. That pretty much is a hodge-podge in my book!

The Spurs looked like they left their offense in the locker room in the first quarter, as the Clippers held a 22-16 lead at the end of the period. San Antonio would discover their shooting touch in the second, and had the Los Angeles lead down to just 1 point 44-43 at the half. Tim Duncan hit a 5 foot bunny in the opening seconds of the third giving the Spurs the lead at 45-44, and they would hold the lead for the rest of the game. San Antonio was on top 75-69 at the end of the quarter, and Los Angeles was never close to challenging at any time during the final 12 minutes.

Tony Parker scored 19 points, 4 assists, and 3 rebounds, while Roger Mason chipped in 18 points, 5 rebounds, and 3 assists. Michael Finley put up 15 points, 5 rebounds, Manu Ginobili added 13 points, 5 assists, 4 rebounds, 4 steals, and 1 block. Matt Bonner had 11 points, 3 rebounds, 2 blocks, 1 steal.

Al Thornton scored 21 points, 5 rebounds, 1 assist, and 1 block, Eric Gordon also had 21 points, 3 assists, 1 block, and 1 steal. Mardy Collins had a good night with 16 points, 5 rebounds, 3 assists, 2 blocks, and 1 steal. Journeyman Fred Jones back with Clippers on the first day of a 10 day contract added 11 points, 3 assists, 2 rebounds, and 1 block. San Antonio is now 24-11, the Clippers are 8-27.

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