Game Preview: San Antonio Spurs vs. Los Angeles Clippers
The final time the San Antonio Spurs confronted the Los Angeles Clippers, we noticed a viscerally emotional Victor Wembanyama. The 25-point comeback on the second evening of a back-to-back was one of many hardest video games of Wembanyama’s life, in line with him. Now the Spurs will probably be higher rested as they journey to Los Angeles for a rematch with the Clippers, and the primary recreation of a back-to-back.
They’ll face a far totally different Clippers staff on Monday. Kawhi Leonard is uncertain for the sport as he recovers from an ankle damage. San Antonio will probably be with out Dylan Harper, who misses his second recreation with a calf contusion, and Luke Kornet, who will sit with knee soreness.
Even with out Leonard, the Clippers are nonetheless a troublesome defensive staff. But it is powerful to think about Los Angeles creating an excessive amount of offense with out their star. Wembanyama and the Spurs will look to construct off their convincing win towards the Charlotte Hornets on Saturday with a street victory towards a Clippers squad that has gained seven of their final ten video games.
March sixteenth, 2026 | 9 PM CT
Watch: Peacock| Listen: WOAI (1200 AM)
Spurs Injuries: Dylan Harper – Out (calf), Luke Kornet – Out (knee), Harrison Ingram – Questionable (G League), David Jones-Garcia – Out (G League), Emanuel Miller – Questionable (G League)
Clippers Injuries: Bradley Beal – Out (hip), Kawhi Leonard – Doubtful (ankle), Yanic Konan Niederhauser – Out (foot)
Wembanyama has been taking part in extra minutes, particularly in nearer video games. I’ve logged 38 minutes towards Detroit and 36 minutes towards Boston. Without Kornet, he could possibly be tasked with extra minutes on Monday evening. That will probably come all the way down to how efficient Mason Plumlee is in his backup minutes. Plumlee has appeared stable in her restricted minutes up to now. He’s adept at working dribble handoffs and hasn’t been a defensive legal responsibility. He’s a bit undersized, which can damage him towards the bigger bigs on the Clippers like Brook Lopez. Plumlee’s capacity to maintain issues shut whereas Wembanyama sits will probably be a vital facet of the sport.
Controlling the rebounding battle
The Clippers are one of many worst rebounding groups within the NBA. They are twenty ninth in complete rebounding and twenty sixth in offensive boards. There is a definite benefit for the Spurs, who’re among the finest groups within the league at attacking the glass. Losing Kornet actually would not assist, however towards a poor rebounding staff like Los Angeles, the Spurs ought to have loads of our bodies to safe further offensive possessions and safe stops on the opposite finish.
San Antonio has appeared nice once they can stand up and down. The Clippers are one of many slowest-paced groups within the NBA, and so they do not flip the ball over a ton. The Spurs can apply defensive strain and transfer rapidly off missed pictures and giveaways to assault Los Angeles earlier than they will set their protection. Especially with Leonard sitting, and the offensive hierarchy of the Clippers getting thrown off, the Spurs have a chance to create a little bit of chaos in Los Angeles by getting up and down to attain straightforward buckets.
