Clippers Finally Defeat Spurs 90-85

Los Angeles, CA (Sports Network) – When you’re the worst team playing the best team, it helps to have a player like Blake Griffin.

Griffin poured in 31 points with 13 rebounds and the Los Angeles Clippers ended an 18-game losing streak to San Antonio with a 90-85 win over the Spurs on Wednesday.

Griffin was 14-of-21 from the field and scored 29 of his points through the first three quarters as the Clippers — an NBA-worst 3-15 entering the game — beat San Antonio for the first time since March 7, 2006.

George Hill had 17 points to lead the Spurs while Tim Duncan scored only eight in a surprising loss.

San Antonio was a league-leading 15-2 coming into the game, the best start in franchise history, and had already beaten the Clippers twice this season, but shot only 36 percent from the field.

Clippers Host Spurs Looking For Rare Win Against NBA's Best

(Sports Network) - It's the NBA's best versus worst tonight as the sizzling San Antonio Spurs hope to remain perfect on the road by notching their 19th consecutive victory over the hapless Los Angeles Clippers.

The Spurs improved to 2-0 on their current three-game trek and 8-0 as the visitor overall in Oakland last night when Tim Duncan scored 15 points, grabbed 18 rebounds and dished out 11 assists to record the third triple- double of his career, as San Antonio dominated the Golden State Warriors, 118-98.

Manu Ginobili added 27 points, six rebounds and five steals for the Spurs, who are an NBA-best 15-2 this season, the best start in franchise history. DeJuan Blair donated 16 points and 10 boards.

"He's Tim Duncan. That's what he does," Spurs head coach Gregg Popovich said. "He's been the heart and soul of our program for a long time. He's where it all begins, and after all this time, we probably take it for granted."

Gary Neal tallied 14 points off the bench for San Antonio, which has won nine in a row against Golden State. Richard Jefferson, Tony Parker and George Hill each chipped in 12 points for the Spurs.

The Clippers, meanwhile, fell to an NBA worst 3-15 on Sunday when Deron Williams led six Jazz players in double figures with 26, and Utah used a strong third quarter to beat LA, 109-97, at Staples Center.

Blake Griffin posted 35 points, 14 rebounds and seven assists for the Clippers, who have lost two straight following back-to-back wins. Eric Gordon contributed 21 points in defeat.

"Give Utah credit, they executed so well," Clippers head coach Vinny Del Negro said. "In the first half, we had good ball movement. In the second half, we didn't, and we couldn't slow them down. They controlled the tempo, and our lack of control in the paint hurt us."

San Antonio, which has taken nine straight over the Clips in LA, has already beaten LA twice this season and will be shooting to sweep the season series tonight for a fifth consecutive year. The Clippers last win over the Spurs was a 98-85 triumph at Staples Center on March 7, 2006.