The San Antonio Spurs once again looked like that team that won the championship in 2014 as they embarrassed the Los Angeles Clippers, 100-73, after returning home for Game 3.
Sports video app
(Video) NBA Playoffs Highlights: Houston Rockets hold on for win against Dallas Mavericks in Game 3 as James Harden scores 42
NBA rumors: Sources “convinced” Tom Thibodeau will be fired by Chicago Bulls this season
The Spurs took a big lead at the end of the first quarter, but the Clippers were able to put up a fight in the second quarter.
They went on a 15-10 run to trim the Spurs’ lead to four points, and power forward Blake Griffin almost entirely took over for the Clippers in the quarter with 10 points.
However, the Spurs took an eight-point lead at halftime although Griffin had cut it from 10 to eight at the buzzer.
The Clippers melted down in the third quarter though as they only scored 11 points, and Spurs small forward Kawhi Leonard dominated with 13 points, reminding everyone why he was the 2014 NBA Finals MVP.
Leonard put the icing on the cake with this incredible throw-down dunk.
The Spurs took a lead by over 20 points at the end of the third quarter, and the Clippers only had 49 total points in the game.
They continued to beat up on the Clippers as their lead reached 30 in the middle of the fourth quarter, and their starters were eventually pulled from the game.
The Clippers were unable to finish with dignity as they lost by 27 points, which marked their worst playoff loss in franchise history.
Their field-goal percentage of 34.1 percent and their 73 points throughout the game also marked their worst playoff performance in team history.
Leonard was easily the best player in the game as he led with 32 points on 13-of-18 shooting, which marked his career high. Leonard also added four rebounds and three steals.
He finished his incredible night with a three-point play before Gregg Popovich benched the Spurs starters.
Despite Leonard clearly standing out, the Spurs stayed true to their spread the ball around philosophy as the bench came up with 45 points.
The entire team made 52.6 percent of their shots from the field, including 41.7 percent from the three-point line.
Center Boris Diaw was second in scoring for the Spurs as he chipped in 15 points with six rebounds. Power forward Tim Duncan was quiet with four points, but he came up with seven rebounds.
Shooting guard Danny Green scored 11 points on 4-of-8 shooting, including making 3-of-6 of his three-pointers. Green also added six rebounds.
Griffin led the Clippers in scoring with 14 points, but he was practically non-existent outside of the second quarter although he came up with 10 rebounds and five assists.
Center DeAndre Jordan was not forced to shoot free throws like his costly performance behind the charity stripe in Game 2, but his 10 points and eight rebounds did not make a difference.
Point guard Chris Paul also folded in front of the Spurs’ home crowd, as he scored seven points on 3-of-11 shooting.
The Spurs will get a chance to put the Clippers’ backs against the wall in Game 4 as they will play another home game.
The Clippers will look to recover from this extraordinarily embarrassing loss on Sunday, but the Spurs seem to have their usual postseason magic with them.
COMMENTS