Clips No Match for Healthy Spurs

The Los Angeles Clippers fell to the San Antonio Spurs 111-98, their 55th loss of the season. LA could not handle San Antonio's full lineup, including the long-awaited return of Manu Ginobili. The Clips shot .513 from the field, but the Spurs shot .561. San Antonio committed only five turnovers. Mike Taylor started for Baron Davis who was out with the flu, and led the Clippers with 23 points. Marcus Camby sprained his ankle in the first quarter, and is expected to miss one to two weeks. Eric Gordon had 18 points, and Zach Randolph and Al Thornton both added 16. Tony Parker led the Spurs with 18 points, and Ginobili had 14 with 7 assists. Tim Duncan added 13 points and 6 rebounds.

Lakers Can't Handle Texas Two-Step

The Los Angeles Lakers were defeated by the San Antonio Spurs 112-111, only the Lakers' 7th loss of the season. San Antonio won with Roger Mason hitting a field goal while being fouled by Derek Fisher, then getting the free-throw. LA had one last possession to pull ahead, but Trevor Ariza was called for traveling with 0.8 seconds left. TV replays later showed that Ariza had in fact been tripped by Manu Ginobili, but the referees failed to see it. Both teams had monster shooting percentages, the Lakers with .566 and the Spurs with .571. Kobe Bryant led LA with 29 points, 10 assists and 7 rebounds. Pau Gasol scored 21 points, Andrew Bynum had 18, and Fisher had 16. Ginobli scored 27 to lead San Antonio, and both Tim Duncan and Tony Parker had 20 points. Mason finished with 18.