SAN ANTONIO – In the literal sense, Sunday wasn’t a must-win game. But in a practical sense and in a the-Clippers-are-serious-about-winning-this-series sense, Game 4 was one they had to have.
After being demolished in Game 3, the Clippers played inspired basketball on the home court of the NBA’s defending champs, evening the series with a 114-105 victory.
The Clipper lead grew to as many as 14 late in the fourth quarter before San Antonio and Kawhi Leonard got it within eight, but led by Chris Paul, the Clippers were able to handle the Spurs’ surge.
The Clippers weathered a storm earlier in the second half when Paul got into foul trouble, but maligned reserve Austin Rivers had one of the best games of his career, scoring 16 points off the bench, missing only a single shot.