Clippers overcome 26-point deficit for their 1st victory at Intuit Dome

The Los Angeles Clippers have a tendency to complicate their own challenges.

Thus, one might question why their pursuit of a first victory in their new arena would be any different.

After five attempts, the Clippers finally achieved success on Monday night at Intuit Dome, rallying from a 26-point deficit to secure a 113-104 win against the San Antonio Spurs.

“That’s the Clippers way. We can’t do it the easy way; we always have to fight back and be dramatic, but a win is a win,” remarked center Ivica Zubac, who contributed 17 points and 13 rebounds.

Owner Steve Ballmer humorously suggested to the players prior to the game that he believed his new $2 billion facility might be cursed, joking that he might need to demolish it and start anew. While this light-hearted banter helped ease the atmosphere, the Clippers were acutely aware of the mounting pressure to secure a victory.

“I’m just happy to get that off our chest. Now we can go out there and play free. I think we did it in the second half,” stated James Harden, who also scored 17 points.

The Spurs held a commanding 40-14 lead at the conclusion of the first quarter before the Clippers mounted their comeback. This marked LA’s largest comeback from a first-quarter deficit, surpassing the previous record of a 23-point deficit faced at Boston on February 9, 2019.

Tyronn Lue's tenure as the head coach of the Clippers has been characterized by remarkable comebacks over the past five seasons.

On January 25, 2022, the team found themselves trailing by 35 points in the first half against Washington, yet they managed to secure a 116-115 victory. Similarly, last season, they overcame a 26-point deficit against Cleveland in the third quarter, ultimately winning 120-118.

The recent comeback marked the third-largest deficit overcome by the Clippers since 1996, as reported by Sportradar.

"We have been performing well and competing hard at home, but we fell short in four consecutive games. We just persevered," Lue remarked.

The Clippers reduced the deficit to eight points by halftime and entered the fourth quarter trailing by only four.

During a critical nine-minute stretch late in the third quarter, LA executed a 33-9 run, which allowed them to take control of the game.

This represented the largest lead surrendered by San Antonio at the end of the first quarter and the fourth-largest deficit overcome in the franchise's history.

"That is a very well-coached team with numerous veterans who have participated in many high-stakes games. Games often feature significant runs. We can learn from their attention to detail and the consistency of fundamental basketball," stated Spurs interim coach Mitch Johnson, who has assumed head coaching responsibilities while Gregg Popovich is sidelined indefinitely due to health issues.

The upcoming home game for the Clippers is expected to draw additional attention, as they will face Philadelphia on Wednesday night. This matchup follows Paul George's season debut on Monday night, where he played for the 76ers in a loss to Phoenix.

George spent five seasons with the Clippers before signing with Philadelphia in the offseason.

"He was an excellent teammate and a great friend. It will be enjoyable to compete against him," Zubac commented.