Clippers vs. San Antonio Spurs: Breaking down season’s matchups

The third-seeded Clippers will play the sixth-seeded San Antonio Spurs in the first round of the playoffs.

The teams have met in the playoffs before, and it didn’t go well for the Clippers. The Spurs swept the Clippers out of the second-round in 2012.

The teams split their games this season.

Here’s a breakdown of what happened:

Nov. 10: Spurs 89, Clippers 85

The Clippers played well for 42 minutes then had a complete breakdown in the fourth quarter, going scoreless after the 5:48 mark through the 25.8-second mark, a five-minute drought during which the Spurs turned a seven-point deficit into a five-point lead.

Dec. 22: Spurs 125, Clippers 118

The Spurs shot an incredible 75% from the field in the first half and led by as many as 17 points. But the Clippers came back to tie the score, 102-102, with 6 minutes 17 seconds left in the fourth quarter after Jamal Crawford made a jumper. The Spurs then went on a 7-0 run to take an eight-point lead with 4:51 left.

Jan. 31: Clippers 105, Spurs 85

The Clippers held control for the majority of the game, leading by as many as 22 points in the fourth quarter. Spurs Coach Gregg Popovich waved the white flag with five minutes left in the game, sitting Tim Duncan, Tony Parker and Kawhi Leonard.

Feb. 19: Clippers 119, Spurs 115

This game featured 20 lead changes and nine ties, the Clippers leading by as many as seven points and the Spurs by as many as nine. With 32.7 seconds left and the Clippers up, 112-111, Jamal Crawford made a three-pointer for the Clippers. Marco Belinelli responded with a three-pointer with 30.6 seconds remaining to cut the Clippers’ lead to one, 115-114. With eight seconds left, Chris Paul made a jumper to help seal the win.

Against the Spurs this season:

The Clippers averaged 106.8 points, shot 48.2% from the field and 35.6% from beyond the three-point line. They averaged 44.8 rebounds, 23.8 assists and 13.8 turnovers.

Against the Clippers this season:

The Spurs averaged 103.5 points, shot 48% from the field and 35% from beyond the three-point line. They averaged 36.5 rebounds, 27.3 assists and 13.3 turnovers.

On the season:

The Clippers were second in the league in field goal percentage (47.3%), the Spurs third (46.8%). The Clippers were third in the league in three-point percentage (37.6%), the Spurs fifth (36.7%). The Spurs were 15th in the league in rebounds (43.6), the Clippers 20th (42.6). The Clippers were third in assists (24.8), the Spurs were fifth (24.4). The Clippers averaged the second fewest turnovers (12.3), the Spurs were 12th (14).

The latest:

Before Wednesday’s 108-103 loss the New Orleans Pelicans, the Spurs were the hottest team in the NBA, having won 11 in a row and 21 of 24 games. The Clippers will enter the playoffs having won seven straight games and 14 of their last 15.

The quote:

After the Clippers beat the Phoenix Suns, 112-101, in their final game of the regular season on Tuesday, the Clippers secured either the No. 2 or No. 3 seeding and were slated to be matched against either the Grizzlies, Rockets, Spurs or Dallas Mavericks depending on what happened in Wednesday’s games.

The one team the Clippers didn’t want to play? The Spurs.

Said Blake Griffin at Friday’s practice: “You probably never want to play the Spurs in the first round if you have a choice. The Spurs are playing their best basketball, like they normally tend to do.”