Well-rested Spurs Top Clippers in Game 1 of West Semis
2012 NBA Playoffs
San Antonio, TX
Despite an eight-day layoff, the Spurs did not show rust with Tim Duncan pouring in 26 points to go with 10 boards in San Antonio's series opening 108-92 victory over the Los Angeles Clippers Tuesday night at AT&T Center.
It was the Spurs' 15th straight win dating back to the regular season, which included a first-round sweep of the Utah Jazz.
Duncan, who tallied about 14 points, eight rebounds and just under two blocks in the four-game sweep of Utah, shot 12-of-20 from the field in 35 minutes of play in notching his 57th career 25-point, 10-rebound playoff game.
It is the most among active players and ranks 7th-most in NBA history.
The marquee matchup of this series between All-Star point guards Tony Parker and Chris Paul failed to meet expectations with Parker having an off-shooting night, while Paul was less than his full capacity due to an injury.
With Parker struggling, Manu Ginobili picked up the slack with 22 points for the Spurs, who tied a franchise playoff record with 13 3-pointers. Ginobili, Kawhi Leonard and Danny Green each made three 3-pointers in Game 1 of this Western Conference semifinal.
Leonard, who finished fourth in the Rookie of the Year voting, finished with 16 markers, while Green scored 15 for the victors.
Parker was 1-for-9 from the field. He finished with seven points and dished out a team-high 11 assists.
Paul, nursing a hip injury, made only three of 13 shots and finished with six points. He had 10 assists and five swipes, but accounted for five of the Clippers' 16 turnovers.
San Antonio had two more turnovers (18), but the Spurs outrebounded (47-34), out-assisted (29-19) and outscored in the paint (42-30) the Clippers.
A day and a half after knocking out the Memphis Grizzlies in Game 7 of their gruelling best-of-seven opening round, the Clippers made it competitive in the fourth after slashing an 18-point deficit to eight, but L.A. failed to sustain the surge.
Backup guard Eric Bledsoe led the Clippers with 23 points, Blake Griffin, who was also limited by injury, ended with 15 points, missing 10 of 17 shots.
Game 2 will be in San Antonio Thursday.
Well-rested Spurs Top Clippers in Game 1 of West Semis
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