Facing elimination, the Clippers hung on in Game 6 for a 102-96 win on Thursday in San Antonio to extent this incredible series to Game 7.
Clippers vs. Spurs Game 6 final score: Los Angeles holds on to 102-96 win, force Game 7
Chris Paul and Blake Griffin came up big in the second half to stay alive and bring the series back to Los Angeles for a decisive Game 7.
After a dismal 0-of-7 first half, Chris Paul came alive in the second half, running the high pick-and-roll with Blake Griffin that regularly led to Paul's patented stepback jumper or a good look off a pass. With no alternative, Doc Rivers played Paul 44 minutes and Griffin 41, but Paul still delivered a game-sealing floater with seconds left.
To counter down the stretch, the Spurs had Boris Diaw, of all people. He finished with 17 points on 8-of-12 shooting and five assists, coming up with big play after big play as San Antonio stuck around in the closing minutes. The Spurs pulled within four with 2:30 to go and were down just two with 10 seconds left, but they couldn't hit enough shots in the final minute to pull off a comeback win. Now the series shifts to San Antonio for a decisive Game 7.
After finishing the 12 minutes tied at 26, San Antonio exploded with some classic Spursian ball movement that set up red hot three-point shooting to go ahead early in the second quarter.
But with the momentum and a seven-point lead about four minutes until the end of the half, DeAndre Jordan was intentionally fouled by Tim Duncan, who apparently missed Gregg Popovich yelling not to do so. Duncan had to sub out with two fouls and the Clippers returned serve, tying the game at 51 when halftime hit.
Here’s three things we learned.
1. The series moves to Los Angeles for a decisive Game 7
Coming into the first round, everyone knew this was the marquee matchup. The other series have been entertaining, but the results in every one have been predictable -- except this one.
Now we go to a seventh game. Home court advantage hasn’t mattered in this one, with both teams actually winning twice on the other’s home floor. We knew this series would be great and it has lived up to its billing every step of the way. Now we can only wait to see what Game 7 has in store.
2. We knew the Clippers’ bench was bad, but this bad!?
Los Angeles’ strength is their league-best starting lineup and their glaring weakness is a bench that only has one consistent performer, Jamal Crawford. Even with a 16-point outing from Austin Rivers in Game 4, the disparity between the two team’s second units is a chasm.
Spurs bench has outscored Clippers bench 21-3 this game, and outscored them by 101 points in the first 5 games of the series (221-120)
— ESPN Stats & Info (@ESPNStatsInfo) May 1, 2015 In Game 6, the final total for the benches was Spurs 48, Clippers 15. That Los Angeles has come this far is a testament to how good those five starters are.
3. Marco Belinelli’s playoff game of his life didn’t matter
Belinelli nailed some huge shots in the Spurs’ 2014 title run, but Thursday was something else. After a scoreless first quarter, he hit four straight three-pointers early in the second quarter and finished the game with 23 points.
With 14 seconds left, Belinelli buried a triple to make things interesting, but a second shot with seconds left bounced around the rim and was ruled offensive goaltending, ending the Spurs’ comeback chances for good.
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