Kawhi Leonard, Paul George Too Much for San Antonio Spurs in Loss to Los Angeles Clippers
The San Antonio Spurs dropped their 10th straight game on Wednesday night in a 109-102 loss to the Los Angeles Clippers at Frost Bank Center.
Kawhi Leonard scored a game-high 26 points and Paul George added 24 of his own after a red-hot start to put away a young Spurs team (3-12) that put up a respectable fight against a star-studded roster. The Clippers (6-7) are still trying to get use to the addition of James Harden, who had 14 points, six rebounds and nine assists on Wednesday.
Spurs rookie star Victor Wembanyama scored a team-high 22 points and had 15 rebounds. Devin Vassell returned from a three-game absence and posted 18 points while Keldon Johnson (15 points, seven assists) Jeremy Sochan (19 points, seven assists) and Zach Collins (16 points) all had double-digit scoring efforts.
Los Angeles Clippers guard James Harden (1) drives to the basket against San Antonio Spurs forward Victor Wembanyama (1) during the first half at Frost Bank Center.
© Scott Wachter, USA TODAY
The Spurs lost 124-99 to the Clippers at home on Monday and have now lost the season series 0-3. Three of L.A.'s six wins this season have come against the Spurs.
The Spurs started off 3 of 19 from the field and 2 of 12 from deep but only trailed 18-14 near the end of the first quarter, but the Clippers used an 8-0 to end the period and took a 26-14 lead headed into the second quarter.
San Antonio remained within striking distance and finally started to catch a rhythm on offense to begin the second quarter, but George couldn't be stopped. He had 14 points and four triples by the 6:48 mark of the second quarter as the Clippers led 43-28.
But the Spurs nearly erased a 17-point deficit and made it a four-point game before the Clippers eventually headed into the half with a 54-48 lead.
Los Angeles had the advantage coming out of the locker room, as Leonard started taking over. Amid the rain of boos, he had 13 points in the quarter as the Clippers rebuilt a big lead at 82-64.
The Spurs, despite falling back into an 18-point hole, fought back in the fourth quarter and made it a 103-98 game with 55 seconds to play but it was too little too late.
San Antonio will get its next chance to end the losing streak on the road Friday against the Golden State Warriors.
