Clippers show grit with road win over Spurs, force Game 7 in L.A. (VIDEO)
This Spurs-Clippers series has been too good to not go to a Game 7.
Twice in this first-round Western Conference playoff series, the Clippers beat the Spurs in San Antonio -- a tough and rare feat -- to even the series and force a Game 7 Saturday at Staples Center.
The Clippers rallied from a 10-point deficit in the first half of Game 6 Thursday at the AT&T Center and hung on in the fourth quarter for a 102-96 victory.
Chris Paul, Blake Griffin and DeAndre Jordan -- the Clippers' three stars -- all had big games and scored in double figures. The Clippers will win and lose via their stars, and that's what happened.
"We showed great resolve. We took a good punch," J.J. Redick said. "There's no question they played well. (Marco) Belinelli played great and hit some difficult shots. Doc talked before the game about just trusting our system and trusting each other. We did that tonight for 48 minutes, and it worked."
After rallying to tie the game at 51 by halftime, the Clippers used an 11-2 run to start the third quarter to take the lead. The Clippers didn't buckle under the pressure down the stretch in the fourth quarter like Game 5 at Staples Center. Paul, Jordan and Griffin all made critical mistakes in the end of that one.
The Clippers sustained disheartening losses at home in Games 2 and 5. Then there was the Clippers' blowout loss in Game 3 in San Antonio. The way the Clippers responded after difficult losses in Games 3 and 5 showed toughness and determination.
"We gutted it out. Everybody played hard," Griffin said. "Guys hit shots when we needed them, too. Guys played defense. Guys came up with stops. We did everything we talked about before the game."
Griffin had a frustrating first half but finished with 26 points, 12 rebounds an six assists. Paul missed his first nine field goals but was a different player in the second half, scoring 15 of his 19 points in the second half. He also had 15 assists, four rebounds and four steals.
Jordan had 15 points and 14 rebounds. He had a short memory to shelve the end of Game 5, in which he was called for offensive interference on a Griffin shot that looked like it would've gone in and put the Clippers up by one point with 4.9 seconds left at Staples Center.
Redick made a key 3-pointer with 3:27 left. Jamal Crawford couldn't find his shot Thursday, but he did when it mattered, knocking down a jumper with 1:25 left and making both free throws - his first two of the game - with 10 seconds left.
One piece of disappointing news for the Clippers is that Glen "Big Baby" Davis sprained his left ankle and had to be helped off the court. He's provided key minutes as the reserve center.
Anything can happen in Game 7.
"One game. We've got nothing to lose," Griffin said. "We've got to play hard. We've been in several Game 7s before. I'll take our team every time."
Said Redick: "We need Staples to be great on Saturday night. We need it to be our homecourt. This has been a dragout, knock 'em out series. Game 7 is going to be intense, another difficult game. We need Staples to be rocking."
