INGLEWOOD, Calif. — The Los Angeles Clippers managed a thrilling comeback victory against the San Antonio Spurs on Monday night, overcoming a daunting 26-point deficit to secure a 113-104 win at Intuit Dome. Norman Powell led the team with 23 points, while Amir Coffey contributed 21 points to the effort.
Additionally, James Harden chipped in 17 points, and Ivica Zubac made his presence felt with 17 points alongside 13 rebounds. This win marked the Clippers’ most significant comeback when trailing at the end of the first quarter and tied for the third-largest comeback in any situation since 1996, as noted by Sportradar.
On the opposing side, Spurs rookie Victor Wembanyama showcased an impressive performance with 24 points, 13 rebounds, and an astounding nine blocked shots. Julian Champagnie also contributed with 21 points. However, the Spurs were left to navigate the game without their head coach Gregg Popovich, who was unavailable due to illness.
The Spurs dominated early, taking a commanding 40-14 lead at the end of the first quarter. However, they faltered as the game progressed. By halftime, the Clippers had managed to close the gap to eight points, and they continued to chip away, entering the fourth quarter with a margin of just four points. Notably, this was the largest lead the Spurs had lost at the end of the first quarter and marked the fourth-largest blown lead by any franchise in history.
A few key elements emerged during the game. For the Spurs, despite shooting an impressive 16 of 26 from the field in the first quarter, they struggled afterward, managing only 22 of 60. The Clippers, on the other hand, found success from beyond the arc, hitting 19 of 37 three-point attempts and securing a season-high 16 offensive rebounds.
A defining moment of the match came during a significant run by the Clippers, where they scored 33 points while allowing just nine from the Spurs within a nine-minute window late in the third and into the fourth quarter. Powell’s critical three-pointer with 7:25 remaining allowed the Clippers to take their first lead at 93-91, and Coffey followed up with another three-pointer a minute later to extend the lead to 96-93.
In the final stretch, the Clippers outscored the Spurs significantly, tallying 31 points to the Spurs’ 18 in the last quarter, sealing their victory. Looking ahead, both teams are set to play again on Wednesday, with the Spurs visiting Houston while the Clippers will host Philadelphia. Notably, Paul George, who spent five seasons with the Clippers, is poised to face off against his former team for the first time.