LOS ANGELES (AP) – If anyone needed any proof of how confident Paul George and the Los Angeles Clippers are feeling, it came late in the second quarter of their game against the San Antonio Spurs.
George stole the ball from Zach Collins after a bad pass by Stanley Johnson, dribbled down the court and threw down a windmill dunk to give the Clippers a 20-point advantage.
The dunk was part of a 35-point night by George as the Clippers extended their winning streak to a season-high four games with a 138-100 rout yesterday.
“My body has been feeling pretty good, and I have been working a ton to stay healthy and keep it that way,” said George, who is averaging 22.4 points after he missed five games earlier this month due to right hamstring soreness. “Everything is kind of falling into place at this point. We’re healthy and starting to figure out our rotations.”
It was the fifth time this season George has had at least 35 points. He was 14 of 19 from the field, including five of eight from beyond the arc as the Clippers posted their largest winning margin since 2021. It was the 11th time since 2013 they have won a game by at least 38 points.
Kawhi Leonard added 27 points and was 10 of 16 from the field.
“We just have to continue to keep building. We’re trending upwards, but we still got a long ways to go, but I like where we’re at right now.,” Clippers coach Tyronn Lue said.
Keldon Johnson scored 19 points for San Antonio, while Isaiah Roby had 14 and Keita Bates-Diop 13. The Spurs have dropped nine of their last 10 and 12 of their 14.
“We played hard. Got our butts kicked. Hopefully learned some things. Go home and start up again,” said Spurs coach Gregg Popovich, whose postgame remarks went just 15 seconds.
It was the fifth time this season San Antonio has lost a game by 35 or more points.
The Clippers won seven of their past nine against the Spurs and swept the four-game season series for the first time since 1996-97.
Los Angeles, which shot 58.4 per cent from the field and made 18 three-pointers, led the entire game. It had a double-digit lead for the final 38 minutes and was up 41-25 at the end of the first quarter.
“When they’re hitting shots like they were tonight and active on defense, that’s what makes them special,” said Bates-Diop about George and Leonard.
ROAD WOES
San Antonio lost for the 18th time in 23 road games and has dropped 10 straight away from home. It is the fifth time in franchise history the Spurs have dropped at least 10 straight road games in a season.
Their in-season longest road losing streak is 12 set during the 1985-86 season.
The Spurs’ overall away losing mark is 22 games, which started in the 1988-89 season and extended to the following campaign.
