Los Angeles had the lead late, but couldn't get buckets that counted down the stretch as the Spurs earned their 18th-straight win and second-consecutive series sweep.
Spurs-Clippers Final: San Antonio Holds Off LA For Sweep, 102-99
Chris Paul, Blake Griffin, and Eric Bledsoe each went off - 23, 21, and 17 points respectively - but it wasn't enough down the stretch, as San Antonio was as San Antonio-esque as ever.
Down the stretch, a pair of possessions the Clippers really needed were predictably nothing more than Chris Paul isos, one of which ended up in a turnover on an off-balance pass to Caron Butler that even Paul couldn't convert:
The next possession ended in a missed fadeaway.
Tim Duncan matched his jersey number with 21 points on 14 shots, but the Spurs won on an all-around effort: Danny Green hit some big threes, as did Gary Neal, with both finishing with 14.
Gregg Popovich's semi-controversial hack-a-Reggie Evans strategy worked to perfection, as the big man bricked both free throws on the play before LA relinquished their last lead of the game. Evans was pulled after the free throws and sat until the final buzzer sounded.
Bummer for the Clippers, but they still had a memorable playoff experience. They weren't the first to be swept by San Antonio, and the Spurs probably won't relent anytime soon. They look like juggernauts and haven't lost in over a month. The Thunder - or, hah, the Lakers, but let's be honest - should be very, very worried.
For more on the Spurs, be sure to visit Pounding the Rock. The best Clippers coverage on the web can be found at Clips Nation. And, if you’re looking for news, analysis and everything else revolving around the NBA Playoffs, be sure to visit SB Nation’s NBA page.
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