Chris Paul Day-To-Day With Strained Left Hamstring

The Clippers have defeated the Spurs both times the teams have played this season.

“I just rode ’em, ” he said. “I’m OK”, Paul said after the game. Still, they might have reason for a little bit of optimism. “I’m glad we’re so much deeper than we were a year ago”.

The Clippers were already without one-star Blake Griffin before another, Chris Paul, could not finish, due to a hamstring injury.

Speights had 14 points, seven rebounds and five assists in 29 minutes.

Los Angeles reserve Jamal Crawford and starters J.J. Redick and DeAndre Jordan each had 11 points. Scuffling at the end of the first quarter and into the second, Brad Stevens turned to a lineup he’s never used before to spark his squad. “I’m glad we’re so much deeper than we were past year”.

Kawhi Leonard scored 27 points for the night.

Former Laker Pau Gasol added 21 points to go with seven rebounds in a losing effort.

The Clippers dictated for much of the first half, taking a 57-45 lead the break. But, the fact that the Spurs began the night with the second-best record in the National Basketball Association, trailing only the Golden State Warriors, made ordering extended rest for the 39-year-old veteran of 14 previous National Basketball Association seasons a relatively easy decision.

“I don’t think it’s bad, but you don’t really know about a hamstring until the next day”, Doc Rivers said.

“You can not play a slow pace against them”, Rivers said during his pre-game media session. That group is unconventional and short on offense, but they scrapped and got the Celtics going.

Event though Blake Griffin was absent from the game against the San Antonio Spurs, the Spurs were unable to capitalize.

Heat 115, Lakers 107: Justise Winslow and Hassan Whiteside each finished with 23 points and 13 rebounds, and Miami rallied from 19 points down to beat Los Angeles. Paul George and Miles each had 19 for the Pacers, and Thaddeus Young added 15 points and 12 rebounds.

High 3-point shooting percentage. From the time that Paul left the game until about 40 seconds left in the 4th quarter, the Clippers outscored San Antonio 32-27, with contributions ranging from Felton’s scoring, Johnson’s rebounding, and Speights’ passing.

Popovich has spearheaded the movement to rest his veterans. So they’re 6-8 since then, which is still far from good but is maybe starting to look like a team that could be turning it around. Their record is great, the stats are terrific, but they still feel vulnerable, and that’s palpable when you watch them. “That is a silly question”. Meanwhile, the Mavericks squeaked by the Portland Trail Blazers with a 96-95 victory.

And they will. There’s two National Football League games on Christmas as well, but the NBA always is a huge TV draw on December 25. His status for the Clippers’ Friday home game against the Dallas Mavericks was unknown. The Clippers have gone 13-5 in their last 18 games against Dallas.