Spurs 104, Clippers 102
SAN ANTONIO -- Tim Duncan hit a 16-foot jumper with 2.2 seconds left despite being fouled by Willie Green, and added a free throw as the Spurs held on for a 104-102 victory over the Los Angeles Clippers on Friday night at the AT&T Center.
Duncan continued his renaissance season with a season-high 34 points and 11 rebounds to lead the Spurs, which built its lead in the Western Conference in to 2 1/2 games with their win and Oklahoma City's loss at Memphis.
The Clippers (49-23) dropped to a tie for third in the West with the Nuggets.
Chris Paul, who had 14 points and 12 assists, missed a shot over Tony Parker as the buzzer sounded. Paul had four points and three assists in the last meeting against the Spurs.
Duncan is averaging 20 points in March, including 23.6 and 10 blocks in the last six games for the Spurs (55-17).
"I didn't want to be short, and my last three shots were short," Duncan said. "I kind of leaned in and prayed for the best."
The Spurs lost Manu Ginobili in the first quarter with tightness in his right hamstring.
NOTES: Chauncey Billups missed the game with a strained right groin. ... Clippers coach Vinny Del Negro and his assistant Marc Iavaoni both spent time in their playing careers with the Spurs. ... While the Clippers are looking for their first 50-win season, the Spurs have hit 50 for 14 consecutive seasons. ... Parker is playing through a sprained right finger suffered against the Nuggets on Wednesday night. ... Spurs coach Gregg Popovich got a lot of laughs when asked to sum up the competitiveness of the Clippers' Chris Paul before the game: "He's a mean, nasty man, and he's a pain in the (butt). I don't know if there's anybody in the league more competitive than that little dude. They must have stolen all his toys when he was a kid, because he's getting back at the world, because he's mad at the world once he steps on the court."
