Clippers Keep Playoff Hopes Alive with Win vs. LaMarcus Aldridge, Spurs
The Los Angeles Clippers' playoff chances are hanging on. Barely.
Austin Rivers hit a go-ahead three with 29 seconds remaining and Manu Ginobili stepped out of bounds on a potential game-tying shot, allowing the Clippers to earn a 113-110 win over the San Antonio Spurs on Tuesday at Staples Center.
A loss would have put the Clippers' postseason hopes on life support. Los Angeles entered the night in 10th place in the Western Conference, two full games behind the New Orleans Pelicans. A loss would have taken them to three games back in the loss column, making them virtually eliminated.
Tobias Harris instead kept the season alive with perhaps his best performance in a Clippers uniform, scoring 31 points and adding nine rebounds. He also hit two clutch free throws that extended the Clippers' advantage to the 113-110 final with 2.9 seconds left.
Lou Williams added 22 points and Rivers had 18 to help Harris out. The Clippers won despite making just five threes, taking advantage of an eye-opening 43 free-throw attempts. Boban Marjanovic did not attempt a single field goal but went to the line 10 times, accounting for all eight of his points.
DeAndre Jordan (10 points, 17 rebounds) and Montrezl Harrell (16 points, eight rebounds) were also in double figures for the Clippers. Jordan has recorded at least 10 rebounds in 19 straight games.
The Spurs took a loss despite another stellar performance from LaMarcus Aldridge, who finished with 35 points and nine rebounds. Aldridge has scored at least 30 points in five of his last nine games, and his red-hot streak has him nearing a career-high in points per game. With a strong start, he could reach the 24-points-per-game barrier for the first time in his career.
Patty Mills added 17 points, but the Spurs were outscored by 19 points when he was on the floor. Rudy Gay (13 points) and Bryn Forbes (12 points) were also in double figures.
San Antonio is currently tied with the Utah Jazz for fourth place in the West, but Utah holds the tiebreaker. The Nos. 4-10 seeds in the Western Conference are separated by three games in the loss column. The Spurs have four games remaining, as do the Clippers.
San Antonio will stay in Los Angeles to play the Lakers on Wednesday in the second night of a back-to-back. The Clippers travel to Utah to play the Jazz on Thursday.
