LOS ANGELES — Forward Tim Duncan scored 21 points and grabbed 11 rebounds, and the San Antonio Spurs held off the Los Angeles Clippers in a 111-107 thriller to take a 3-2 lead in their Western Conference first-round series Tuesday night at Staples Center.
San Antonio forward Kawhi Leonard added 18 points, including two clutch free throws to seal the win with 1.2 seconds left. Leonard also had nine rebounds.
The Spurs can close out the series with a victory in Game 6 on Thursday at the AT&T Center in San Antonio.
The Clippers missed a chance to win it down the stretch. Forward Blake Griffin, who finished with 30 points, 14 rebounds and seven assists, missed a runner in the lane, and center DeAndre Jordan’s tip-in was wiped off because of basket interference with 4.3 seconds remaining and the Clippers trailing 108-107. The officials confirmed the call on a review.
Guard Danny Green hit one of two foul shots with 4.1 seconds left, giving the Spurs a 109-107 lead, but Leonard rebounded the second miss and was fouled with 1.2 seconds left. He hit both free throws to clinch the decision, putting the Clippers on the brink of elimination.
Jordan finished with 21 points and 14 rebounds, and point guard Chris Paul scored 19 points and recorded 10 assists, but it wasn’t enough for Los Angeles. Clippers guard J.J. Redick added 13 points.
The Clippers led 54-53 at halftime. The clubs exchanged leads in the third period before ending the quarter tied at 82 after Los Angeles guard Austin Rivers hit a jumper at the horn.
The Spurs made 44.4 percent of their shots from the floor compared to 46.5 percent for the Clippers. However, San Antonio converted 11 of 23 from behind the 3-point arc to only one of 14 for Los Angeles.
The Spurs committed 16 turnovers, 10 in the first half, while the Clippers gave the ball away 14 times.
NOTES: Clippers coach Doc Rivers said pregame it was a no-brainer why the Spurs lost only three times in 14 previous Game 5 situations when they were tied at 2-2 in a seven-game series. Los Angeles fell to 1-7 in such games with Tuesday’s loss. “They’ve been through these,” said Rivers, who guided his club past the Golden State Warriors last season in its lone win. “They’re not going to panic.” … Spurs coach Gregg Popovich said he no longer worries about his team’s mentality during the playoffs. “It’s not worth it,” he said. “What are you going to do? I don’t shoot. I don’t rebound. I don’t get back on defense. I just watch and try to make adjustments during the game.”… Game 7, if necessary, will be Saturday at Staples Center.