Kawhi Leonard demonstrated his scoring prowess with 21 points in just 28 minutes, guiding the Los Angeles Clippers to a resounding 123-83 win over the San Antonio Spurs during the rookie Victor Wembanyama’s first road game appearance.
Paul George and Russell Westbrook added 19 points each for the Clippers, who improved their home record to 2-0 and swiftly recovered from a narrow two-point defeat on the road against the Utah Jazz.
Bones Hyland made his presence known with 18 points, while Ivica Zubac contributed 16 points on an efficient 6-of-7 shooting performance. Both Zubac and Westbrook were dominant on the boards with eight rebounds each. This game marked the beginning of a three-game series in four days for the Clippers, with their upcoming matchup against the Los Angeles Lakers.
Devin Vassell led the Spurs with 14 points, although he managed to score just two of those points in the second half. Cedi Osman added 12 points to the Spurs’ tally. Victor Wembanyama, the 7-foot-4 first overall draft pick in the current year’s draft, contributed 11 points on 4-of-10 shooting. The Spurs now have two road games ahead, facing off against Kevin Durant and the Phoenix Suns.
The Clippers established their dominance early, gaining a 14-point lead in the first quarter and concluding the period with a 23-17 advantage. By halftime, they had extended their lead to 56-37, shooting at a 48.9 percent success rate. Leonard and George combined for 25 points.
The Spurs’ fortunes failed to improve in the second half as they found themselves trailing by as many as 34 points in the third quarter, offering no real threat in the final period. The Clippers breezed past the 100-point mark with a Norman Powell three-pointer, leading 102-75 with 7:31 remaining in the game.
In a commendable effort, the Clippers dominated the boards with a 48-37 rebounding advantage against the Spurs. They also demonstrated an impressive defensive performance by forcing 25 turnovers, which they converted into 34 points.
