NBA 2018-19: 3 Talking Points from the San Antonio Spurs' blowout win over the Los Angeles Clippers

Spurs eventually blewout the Clippers by as many as 38 points (Image Credits: LA Times)
Spurs eventually blewout the Clippers by as many as 38 points (Image Credits: LA Times)

Final Score: San Antonio Spurs defeated Los Angeles Clippers, 125-87

The San Antonio Spurs were on a three-game win streak, with their recent win against the Phoenix Suns in a 25-point blowout. They hosted the Los Angeles Clippers, who were coming off a loss against the Toronto Raptors.

It was a nine-point game at halftime with Spurs taking the lead. However, the home team came out stronger in the second half and the Spurs eventually blewout the Clippers by as many as 38 points.

For the Spurs, Aldridge was the high-scorer with 27 points. DeMar DeRozan added 14 and Rudy Gay had 21 points. Tobias Harris led the Clippers with 17 points and the Clippers lost their second game in a row.

The Spurs are currently with a 15-14 win-loss record and are at the 10th spot in the Western Conference Standings, fighting to make it to the playoffs. Let us look at three talking points from the San Antonio Spurs' blowout win over the Los Angeles Clippers.


#3 Spurs' bench outperformed the Clippers' bench

Marco Belinelli led the bench scoring with 14 points (Image Credit: BR)
Marco Belinelli led the bench scoring with 14 points (Image Credit: BR)

Marco Belinelli led the bench scoring with 14 points enroute to his forth straight game with double-digits scoring. He finished the night shooting 5-for-9 from the field and a field-goal percentage of 55.6 %.

Patty Mills was also impressive and scored 11 points on 3-for-4 shooting. He was also perfect 4-for-4 from the free-throw line. The Spurs' bench combined for 42 points on 13-for-21 shooting, including 5-for-9 from downtown.

The Clippers' bench got outperformed by the Spurs' bench as they scored just 25 points on poor 10-for-41 shooting. The bench did not provide much for the Clippers and that definitely hurt the team. Patrick Beverley, Mike Scott and Montrezl Harrell scored 6 points each coming off the bench.

#2 Clippers' poor three-point shooting

Clippers' three-point shooting disappeared against the Spurs (Image Credit: USA Today)
Clippers' three-point shooting disappeared against the Spurs (Image Credit: USA Today)

The Los Angeles Clippers are one of the best shooting teams in the league and is filled with players who can get hot from behind the arc in no time. However, against the Spurs, who are also one of the top shooting teams in NBA, their three-point shooting disappeared.

They went 10-for-31 from the three-point line compared to Spurs' 10-for-22 and that changed the course of the outcome. In Particular, the Clippers' bench combined for 3-for-17 from behind the arc.

Spurs did a great job of not letting the Clippers team get any open looks and the stats show how much of a difference that made. Even in the starting unit, Tobias Harris went 1-for-4 and was not his usual self.

On a night when the Spurs shot red-hot 45.5 percent from downtown, there was no margin for error and the Clippers' bad three-point shooting never kept them in the game.

#1 LaMarcus Aldridge and Rudy Gay's efficient night

Rudy Gay and LaMarcus Aldridge had a magnificent game. Credit: ABS-CBN
Rudy Gay and LaMarcus Aldridge had a magnificent game. Credit: ABS-CBN

Aldridge: 27 points, 4 rebounds, 1 assist and 2 steals on 85.7 % shooting

Gay: 21 points, 6 rebounds, 3 assists, 2 steals and a block on 80.0 % shooting

While LaMarcus Aldridge is carrying his last season form into this season and is posting huge numbers, Rudy Gay took his game to another level this season and particularly from the three-point land, he is knocking them down at career-best 48.5 percent.

Against the Clippers, the duo went off and combined for 48 points on ridiculous 20-for-24 (83.3%). The duo kept hitting shots from anywhere on the court. Aldridge was very dominant in the paint and used his size to score buckets.

On a night when DeRozan could not get it going from the field (shooting), the two big men carried the team home.

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