Clippers Give Up 25-point Lead In Loss To Victor Wembanyama And Spurs

SAN ANTONIO — Victor Wembanyama had 27 points, 10 rebounds and 4 blocks arsenic nan San Antonio Spurs rallied from a 25-point shortage to hit nan Clippers 116-112 connected Friday night.

Kawhi Leonard had 30 points and 9 rebounds for nan Clippers, which had a three-game winning streak snapped.

San Antonio (46-17) has won 14 of 15 and is 2nd successful nan Western Conference.

After defending a missed three-pointer by Leonard, Wembanyama collapsed free for an uncontested dunk that gave nan Spurs a 113-112 lead pinch 16 seconds left. Clippers guardant Nicolas Batum turned nan shot complete connected nan ensuing possession erstwhile his ft crossed nan bound while inbounding nan ball. Stephon Castle closed retired nan triumph by rebounding his ain missed free propulsion and converting a layup pinch 1 2nd remaining.

After trailing 75-50 successful nan 3rd quarter, nan Spurs opened nan 4th pinch an 18-5 tally to return their first lead since nan opening minutes.

Wembanyama blocked Kris Dunn’s reverse layup, creating a accelerated break that ended pinch an alley-oop dunk by Carter Bryant. Devin Vassell followed pinch a three-pointer for a 99-97 lead.

Julian Champagnie vanished pinch 20 points and 9 rebounds for nan Spurs, and De’Aaron Fox had 19 points and 9 rebounds.

Brook Lopez had 26 points for nan Clippers.

Lopez had 9 points successful nan first 4th connected a bid of floaters, fadeaways and step-back jumpers.

The Clippers took a 56-39 lead pinch 4½ minutes near successful nan first half. The lead stretched to 22 points complete nan adjacent 4 minutes.

San Antonio changeable 38% from nan section and 30% connected 3-pointers successful nan first half to way 66-46 astatine nan break, its biggest halftime shortage of nan season. The Spurs person led astatine nan half successful 42 of their 63 games.

Up adjacent for nan Clippers: at Memphis connected Saturday.