Clippers Earn Their Spurs

The Los Angeles Clippers had been on a brilliant 7-game win streak; torpedoing their previous 1-4 record to a healthy 8-4. And then they lost to the fiery Chicago Bulls; who have '2 Guns' DeMar DeRozan & Zach LeVine firing on all cylinders. As such; this game against the San Antonio Spurs was a rather interesting proposition: could they beat a talented Spurs outfit; and end their home-run on an impressive 5-1?

As it turned out; this was vintage Clippers basketball all the way. The game itself was actually quite tight; with both teams hanging on a knife-edge and trying to forge ahead. And then in an almost surreal 2-minute sequence at the end of the third quarter: this happened. Reggie Jackson; previously struggling in the game shooting wildly from three-point range; exploded to take the Clippers to the Promised Land.

First; he executed a highlight-film left-handed block from the Spurs' Tre Jones that ignited the home crowd. On the ensuing fast-break; he read the defense perfectly to execute a perfect alley-oop pass for Isaiah Hartenstein to slam home emphatically. As if that wasn't enough; Jackson; clearly elevated by the heroics; continued the upsurge on the offensive front. First; he blew by the defence for an in-lane floater. And on the next possession; he darted past his man for a lay-up at the cup to bolden the home side's advantage to twelve. Suddenly; the Clippers were in total control.

Another reference point for Tyronn Lue's men was the nice play of his bench reserves in this one. With Amir Coffey; Brandon Boston Jr and Jay Scrubb all logging minutes; it was a worthy testament to the great future this Clippers organisation possesses. Especially Boston Jr; who proved the rave reviews with an effervescent performance; hitting three-pointers and confident jumpers on his way to 13 points.