This is the premier series of the first round -- the only one knotted up at 1-1, the only one with two title contenders and the only one seemingly destined to go seven games as both teams trade blows back and forth.
Clippers vs. Spurs Game 3: Start time, TV schedule and online streaming for NBA playoffs 2015
San Antonio evened the series on the road, so can Los Angeles return the favor?
Gary A. Vasquez-USA TODAY Sports
After a Tim Duncan-powered win in Game 2, the Spurs now have the advantage of home court and the next two in the AT&T Center. Duncan, who turns 39 this week, led San Antonio past a Blake Griffin triple double with 28 points and 11 rebounds of his own. He dominated even with just a single free throw, shooting 14-23 from the field.
Headed into this series, it seemed like Duncan might have trouble against DeAndre Jordan, bigger and more physical than any other center in the league including Duncan. But helped by 19 minutes from the wobbly Tiago Splitter, Duncan more than held his own, though Jordan did score 20 points and snare 15 rebounds on the other end.
The problem for Los Angeles -- a problem it's had all season -- is its lack of a bench. Glen Davis, Austin Rivers and Hedo Turkoglu are not NBA playoff-level rotation players, and all three of them routinely get minutes. The Clippers need a little more from them if they want to retake the lead in this series on Friday.
The alternative is to get a huge scoring night from Griffin, Chris Paul or Jamal Crawford. But with Kawhi Leonard -- who just won the NBA's Defensive Player of the Year award -- the Spurs have a counter for any of Los Angeles' scorers who might heat up.
Here’s how to watch Friday:
Time: 9:30 p.m. ET
TV: ESPN
Online: WatchESPN
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