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Spurs 102, Clippers 99: Game 4
San Antonio Spurs’ Tony Parker (09) drives past Los Angeles Clippers’ DeAndre Jordan (06) in the first quarter during game four of the Western Conference semifinals at Staples Center in Los Angeles, Sunday, May 20, 2012. Jerry Lara/San Antonio Express-News (Jerry Lara / San Antonio Express-News)
San Antonio Spurs’ Tim Duncan (21) offers support to teammate Kawhi Leonard (02) after a play against the Los Angeles Clippers in the first quarter during game four of the Western Conference semifinals at Staples Center in Los Angeles, Sunday, May 20, 2012. Jerry Lara/San Antonio Express-News (Jerry Lara / San Antonio Express-News)
San Antonio Spurs’ Tiago Splitter (22) and Tony Parker (09) pressure Los Angeles Clippers’ Chris Paul (03) in the first quarter during game four of the Western Conference semifinals at Staples Center in Los Angeles, Sunday, May 20, 2012. Jerry Lara/San Antonio Express-News (Jerry Lara / San Antonio Express-News)
San Antonio Spurs’ Tim Duncan (21) applauds after the Los Angeles Clippers turned over the ball in the first quarter during game four of the Western Conference semifinals at Staples Center in Los Angeles, Sunday, May 20, 2012. Jerry Lara/San Antonio Express-News (Jerry Lara / San Antonio Express-News)
Spurs’ Kawhi Leonard (02) goes for a reverse layup against the Los Angeles Clippers’ Blake Griffin (32) and Chris Paul (03) in the first half of game four of the Western Conference semifinals at the Staples Center in Los Angeles on Sunday, May 20, 2012. Kin Man Hui/Express-News (Kin Man Hui / SAN ANTONIO EXPRESS-NEWS)
Spurs’ Tim Duncan (21) goes in for a dunk against the Los Angeles Clippers’ Blake Griffin (32) and Caron Butler (05) in the first half of game four of the Western Conference semifinals at the Staples Center in Los Angeles on Sunday, May 20, 2012. Kin Man Hui/Express-News (Kin Man Hui / SAN ANTONIO EXPRESS-NEWS)
Spurs’ Tiago Splitter (22) goes up for a shot against the Los Angeles Clippers’ Blake Griffin (32) in the first half of game four of the Western Conference semifinals at the Staples Center in Los Angeles on Sunday, May 20, 2012. Kin Man Hui/Express-News (Kin Man Hui / SAN ANTONIO EXPRESS-NEWS)
Spurs’ Manu Ginobili (20) drives the basket against the Los Angeles Clippers in the first half of game four of the Western Conference semifinals at the Staples Center in Los Angeles on Sunday, May 20, 2012. Kin Man Hui/Express-News (Kin Man Hui / SAN ANTONIO EXPRESS-NEWS)
Spurs’ Boris Diaw (33) contends for a rebound against the Los Angeles Clippers’ Caron Butler (05) in the first half of game four of the Western Conference semifinals at the Staples Center in Los Angeles on Sunday, May 20, 2012. Kin Man Hui/Express-News (Kin Man Hui / SAN ANTONIO EXPRESS-NEWS)
Spurs’ Matt Bonner (15) intentionally fouls Los Angeles Clippers’ DeAndre Jordan (06) in the first half of game four of the Western Conference semifinals at the Staples Center in Los Angeles on Sunday, May 20, 2012. Kin Man Hui/Express-News (Kin Man Hui / SAN ANTONIO EXPRESS-NEWS)
San Antonio Spurs’ Boris Diaw (33) gets blocked by Los Angeles Clippers’ DeAndre Jordan (06) in the first quarter during game four of the Western Conference semifinals at Staples Center in Los Angeles, Sunday, May 20, 2012. Jerry Lara/San Antonio Express-News (Jerry Lara / San Antonio Express-News)
San Antonio Spurs’ Tony Parker (09) shoots against Los Angeles Clippers’ Chris Paul (03) and DeAndre Jordan (06) in the first quarter during game four of the Western Conference semifinals at Staples Center in Los Angeles, Sunday, May 20, 2012. Jerry Lara/San Antonio Express-News (Jerry Lara / San Antonio Express-News)
San Antonio Spurs Stephen Jackson (03), Manu Ginobili (20) and Tiago Splitter (22), surround Los Angeles Clippers Nick Young (11), during game four of the Western Conference semifinals at Staples Center in Los Angeles, Sunday, May 20, 2012. Jerry Lara/San Antonio Express-News (Jerry Lara / San Antonio Express-News)
San Antonio Spurs Manu Ginobili (20), reaches try and steal the ball from Los Angeles Clippers Eric Bledsoe (12), during game four of the Western Conference semifinals at Staples Center in Los Angeles, Sunday, May 20, 2012. Jerry Lara/San Antonio Express-News (Jerry Lara / San Antonio Express-News)
San Antonio Spurs Tony Parker (09) and Tim Duncan (21) talks on the bench during a break against the Los Angeles Clippers during game four of the Western Conference semifinals at Staples Center in Los Angeles, Sunday, May 20, 2012. Jerry Lara/San Antonio Express-News (Jerry Lara / San Antonio Express-News)
Spurs’ Tony Parker (09) makes a pass against the Los Angeles Clippers’ DeAndre Jordan (06) in the second half of game four of the Western Conference semifinals at the Staples Center in Los Angeles on Sunday, May 20, 2012. Kin Man Hui/Express-News (Kin Man Hui / SAN ANTONIO EXPRESS-NEWS)
Spurs’ Tony Parker (09) gets hammered by Los Angeles Clippers’ Blake Griffin (32) in the second half of game four of the Western Conference semifinals at the Staples Center in Los Angeles on Sunday, May 20, 2012. Kin Man Hui/Express-News (Kin Man Hui / SAN ANTONIO EXPRESS-NEWS)
Spurs’ Tony Parker (09) gets grabbed by the Los Angeles Clippers’ Chris Paul (03) in the second half of game four of the Western Conference semifinals at the Staples Center in Los Angeles on Sunday, May 20, 2012. Kin Man Hui/Express-News (Kin Man Hui / SAN ANTONIO EXPRESS-NEWS)
Spurs’ Tiago Splitter (22) attempts to defend against the Los Angeles Clippers’ Blake Griffin (32) in the second half of game four of the Western Conference semifinals at the Staples Center in Los Angeles on Sunday, May 20, 2012. Kin Man Hui/Express-News (Kin Man Hui / SAN ANTONIO EXPRESS-NEWS)
Spurs’ Tim Duncan (21) debates a call with Los Angeles Clippers’ Chris Paul (03) and Randy Foye (04) in the second half of game four of the Western Conference semifinals at the Staples Center in Los Angeles on Sunday, May 20, 2012. Kin Man Hui/Express-News (Kin Man Hui / SAN ANTONIO EXPRESS-NEWS)
Los Angeles Clippers’ Blake Griffin (32) dunks on Spurs’ Tim Duncan (21) in the second half of game four of the Western Conference semifinals at the Staples Center in Los Angeles on Sunday, May 20, 2012. Kin Man Hui/Express-News (Kin Man Hui / SAN ANTONIO EXPRESS-NEWS)
Spurs’ Tony Parker (09) looks for a call but doesn’t get one against Los Angeles Clippers’ Chris Paul (03) and Blake Griffin (32) in the second half of game four of the Western Conference semifinals at the Staples Center in Los Angeles on Sunday, May 20, 2012. Kin Man Hui/Express-News (Kin Man Hui / SAN ANTONIO EXPRESS-NEWS)
San Antonio Spurs’ Tim Duncan (21) reacts after scoring against the Los Angeles Clippers’ in the third quarter of game four of the Western Conference semifinals at Staples Center in Los Angeles, Sunday, May 20, 2012. Jerry Lara/San Antonio Express-News (Jerry Lara / San Antonio Express-News)
San Antonio Spurs’ Manu Ginobili (20) chats with coach Gregg Popovich during their game against the Los Angeles Clippers in the third quarter of game four of the Western Conference semifinals at Staples Center in Los Angeles, Sunday, May 20, 2012. Jerry Lara/San Antonio Express-News (Jerry Lara / San Antonio Express-News)
San Antonio Spurs’ Tim Duncan (21) attempts to defend against Los Angeles Clippers’ Blake Griffin (32) in the third quarter of game four of the Western Conference semifinals at Staples Center in Los Angeles, Sunday, May 20, 2012. Jerry Lara/San Antonio Express-News (Jerry Lara / San Antonio Express-News)
San Antonio Spurs’ Danny Green (04), Tim Duncan (21) and Tony Parker (09) wait for the game to resume against the Los Angeles Clippers in the third quarter of game four of the Western Conference semifinals at Staples Center in Los Angeles, Sunday, May 20, 2012. Jerry Lara/San Antonio Express-News (Jerry Lara / San Antonio Express-News)
San Antonio Spurs’ Tony Parker (09) talks with head coach Gregg Popovich during their game against the Los Angeles Clippers in the third quarter of game four of the Western Conference semifinals at Staples Center in Los Angeles, Sunday, May 20, 2012. Jerry Lara/San Antonio Express-News (Jerry Lara / San Antonio Express-News)
San Antonio Spurs’ Danny Green (04), Tim Duncan (21) and Tony Parker (09) wait for the game to resume against the Los Angeles Clippers in the third quarter of game four of the Western Conference semifinals at Staples Center in Los Angeles, Sunday, May 20, 2012. Jerry Lara/San Antonio Express-News (Jerry Lara / San Antonio Express-News)
San Antonio Spurs’ Danny Green (04) attempts to steal the ball from Los Angeles Clippers’ Chris Paul (03) in the third quarter of game four of the Western Conference semifinals at Staples Center in Los Angeles, Sunday, May 20, 2012. Jerry Lara/San Antonio Express-News (Jerry Lara / San Antonio Express-News)
San Antonio Spurs’ Tim Duncan (21) and Boris Diaw (33) attempt to block a shot by Los Angeles Clippers’ DeAndre Jordan (06) in the third quarter of game four of the Western Conference semifinals at Staples Center in Los Angeles, Sunday, May 20, 2012. Jerry Lara/San Antonio Express-News (Jerry Lara / San Antonio Express-News)
San Antonio Spurs’ Tony Parker (09) winces after getting hit in the face during the game against the Los Angeles Clippers in the third quarter of game four of the Western Conference semifinals at Staples Center in Los Angeles, Sunday, May 20, 2012. Jerry Lara/San Antonio Express-News (Jerry Lara / San Antonio Express-News)
San Antonio Spurs’ Tim Duncan (21) takes a shot against Los Angeles Clippers’ DeAndre Jordan (06) in the third quarter of game four of the Western Conference semifinals at Staples Center in Los Angeles, Sunday, May 20, 2012. Jerry Lara/San Antonio Express-News (Jerry Lara / San Antonio Express-News)
San Antonio Spurs’ Tim Duncan (21) smiles during a break late in the fourth quarter against the Los Angeles Clippers’ in game four of the Western Conference semifinals at Staples Center in Los Angeles, Sunday, May 20, 2012. The Spurs won, 102-99 and sweep the series to advance to the Western Conference Finals. Jerry Lara/San Antonio Express-News (San Antonio Express-News)
San Antonio Spurs’ Tim Duncan (21) smiles late in the fourth quarter against the Los Angeles Clippers’ in game four of the Western Conference semifinals at Staples Center in Los Angeles, Sunday, May 20, 2012. The Spurs won, 102-99 and sweep the series to advance to the Western Conference Finals. Jerry Lara/San Antonio Express-News (San Antonio Express-News)
San Antonio Spurs’ Tim Duncan talks with Danny Green late in the fourth quarter against the Los Angeles Clippers’ in game four of the Western Conference semifinals at Staples Center in Los Angeles, Sunday, May 20, 2012. The Spurs won, 102-99 and sweep the series to advance to the Western Conference Finals. Jerry Lara/San Antonio Express-News (San Antonio Express-News)
Spurs’ Danny Green (04) and Tim Duncan (21) keeps defensive pressure on Los Angeles Clippers’ Chris Paul (03) in the fourth quarter of game four of the Western Conference semifinals at the Staples Center in Los Angeles on Sunday, May 20, 2012. Spurs defeated Clippers 102-99. Kin Man Hui/Express-News (SAN ANTONIO EXPRESS-NEWS)
Spurs’ Tony Parker (09) takes a shot against the Los Angeles Clippers Chris Paul (03) in the fourth quarter of game four of the Western Conference semifinals at the Staples Center in Los Angeles on Sunday, May 20, 2012. Spurs defeated the Clippers, 102-99. Kin Man Hui/Express-News (SAN ANTONIO EXPRESS-NEWS)
The Spurs celebrates as Los Angeles Clippers’ Blake Griffin (bottom left) contemplates the loss of game four of the Western Conference semifinals at the Staples Center in Los Angeles on Sunday, May 20, 2012. The Spurs defeated the Clippers, 102-99. Kin Man Hui/Express-News (SAN ANTONIO EXPRESS-NEWS)
The Spurs bench celebrates at the closing moments of game 4 against the Los Angeles Clippers at the Western Conference semifinals at the Staples Center in Los Angeles on Sunday, May 20, 2012. The Spurs defeated the Clippers 102-99. Kin Man Hui/Express-News (SAN ANTONIO EXPRESS-NEWS)
Spurs’ Kawhi Leonard (02), Tony Parker (09) and Tim Duncan (21) battle Los Angeles Clippers’ Chris Paul (03) and Blake Griffin (32) for a loose ball in the fourth quarter of game four of the Western Conference semifinals at the Staples Center in Los Angeles on Sunday, May 20, 2012. Spurs defeated the Clippers 102-99. Kin Man Hui/Express-News (SAN ANTONIO EXPRESS-NEWS)
Spurs’ Danny Green (04) celebrates after taking a foul by the Los Angeles Clippers in the fourth quarter of game four of the Western Conference semifinals at the Staples Center in Los Angeles on Sunday, May 20, 2012. Spurs defeated the Clippers 102-99. Kin Man Hui/Express-News (SAN ANTONIO EXPRESS-NEWS)
Spurs’ Danny Green (04) wraps up Los Angeles Clippers’ Chris Paul (03) as Spurs teammates Tim Duncan (21) and Kawhi Leonard (02) close in to help in the fourth quarter of game four of the Western Conference semifinals at the Staples Center in Los Angeles on Sunday, May 20, 2012. Spurs defeated the Clippers 102-99. Kin Man Hui/Express-News (SAN ANTONIO EXPRESS-NEWS)
The Spurs bench show various emotions to end the game against the Los Angeles Clippers in the fourth quarter of game four of the Western Conference semifinals at the Staples Center in Los Angeles on Sunday, May 20, 2012. Spurs defeated the Clippers 102-99. Kin Man Hui/Express-News (SAN ANTONIO EXPRESS-NEWS)
By Jeff McDonald
LOS ANGELES — The Spurs trailed the Los Angeles Clippers by six points in the fourth quarter Sunday night.
For a team that had cruised to victory after victory over the past month and a half as if it owned some sort of easy button, this qualified as breaking news.
Faced with an unfamiliar situation, the Spurs leaned on an unmatched familiarity with each other to produce a recognizable result.
Using Tim Duncan to orchestrate a series of late baskets, the Spurs pulled past the Clippers at the finish line of Game 4 at the Staples Center, earning a 102-99 victory and their second straight postseason sweep.
With the victory, the Spurs moved on to the Western Conference finals for the first time since 2008, when they lost to the Los Angeles Lakers in five games.
“It was just perseverance,” Duncan said. “We just stuck with it. We kept moving the ball and doing what we wanted.”
Duncan finished with 21 points, nine rebounds, three blocks and four assists, leading the Spurs to their 18th straight win, the longest winning streak in franchise history.
With it, the Spurs open the playoffs with consecutive sweeps for the first time in club annals, and have multiple sweeps in the same postseason for the first time since 1999.
They advance to face either Oklahoma City or the Lakers in a conference-finals series that will begin no earlier than Saturday. Having gone 39 days without a loss — their last was April 11 — that means it will be another six before the Spurs will have a chance to end the winning streak they swear they haven’t even thought about.
“As for the winning streak, it doesn’t exist for us,” coach Gregg Popovich said. “We don’t talk about it. It’s not on the radar for us.”
A night after facing the biggest threat to that streak — falling behind by 24 in Game 3 before rallying for a 10-point win — the Spurs stared down dicey moments down the stretch in Game 4.
Duncan’s two biggest passes of the night came during a back-and-forth fourth quarter, when he sandwiched backdoor passes to Tony Parker and Manu Ginobili for layups around his own jump hook.
The first, to Parker, was off a designed play and gave the Spurs a one-point lead with 2:13 to play. The pass to Ginobili moments later came on a freelance job, with the Argentine guard recognizing an opening and Duncan following his lead.
Parker’s teardrop with 1:47 left gave the Spurs a 100-97 lead, and from there it became a matter of just holding on.
Clippers star Chris Paul, who looked more like himself than at any previous point in the series en route to 23 points and 11 assists, had two chances to put his team ahead or tie in the final 30 seconds.
Danny Green stripped Paul on one drive, Duncan thwarted another, and Green and Parker split free throws to help the Spurs survive.
“It was great to have a game like this,” said Duncan, whose team hasn’t lost since April 11. “It was a good experience for our young guys.”
As demoralized as coach Vinny Del Negro’s team had been the day before, observers had every right to question what the Clippers had left.
Del Negro’s pre-game admonition to his players: Leave everything on the Staples Center floor, made a tad more slippery by condensation from the hockey rink underneath.
“There’s no pacing yourself,” Del Negro said. “There’s no feeling sorry for yourself. Nobody’s going to feel sorry for you.”
With one All-Star (Paul) hobbled by the groin and hip issues that had been plaguing him since the first round, and the other (Blake Griffin) adding a busted lip to knee and ankle injuries, the Clippers nevertheless were game.
The Clippers traded baskets and runs with the Spurs, and when Green missed an open 3-pointer at the third-quarter buzzer, it left L.A. with a 75-74 edge. It marked the first time the Spurs had trailed heading into the fourth quarter this postseason.
The Spurs weathered a big final frame from Eric Bledsoe, who had a run of 11 consecutive points for the Clippers. Bledsoe finished with 17 points and his fast-break layup, set up when DeAndre Jordan blocked Duncan at the other end, put the Clippers ahead 88-82 — just 6:12 away from extending their season.
Then Gary Neal threw in a 3-pointer, and Green added one too, and soon Duncan began his clinic.
For the Spurs, the night had been novel enough. It was high time to move on.
“They’re experienced, and their experience showed,” Del Negro said. “No question about that.”
jmcdonald@express-news.net
Twitter: @Jmcdonald_SAEN
SPURS VS. CLIPPERS
(Spurs win best-of-seven series 4-0)
Game 1:
Game 2:
Game 3:
Game 4:
