Spurs view Game 2 against the Clippers as a desperation game

The San Antonio Spurs were asked if Game 2 was a desperation game for the defending NBA champions.

They pondered the question because they are down 0-1 to the Clippers in the best-of-seven first-round playoff series and have to play the second game Wednesday night at Staples Center.

“Yeah,” Spurs guard Manu Ginobili answered. “We know it’s very hard to overcome a 0-2. So we know it’s a huge game.

“We are sort of hurt. We didn’t like to see us do what we did. Last game, we were a little disappointed. So we want to do much better today and hopefully go back to San Antonio 1-1.”

The last time the Spurs went down 0-2 in a playoff series was in 2010 against the Phoenix Suns in the conference semifinals.

San Antonio was swept 4-0 in that series.

So the Spurs know a lot is at stake in Game 2 against the Clippers on Wednesday night.

“Obviously tonight is a key one for us,” Spurs guard Danny Green said. “We don’t want to go back home down 0-2 obviously. But every game is a desperation one for us.”

Green’s shooting will have to improve if the Spurs are to defeat the Clippers.

He missed six of his seven three-pointers in the first game.

That’s a rare occurrence for Green.

He shot 41.8% from behind the three-point line during the regular season, ranking seventh in the league.

“To see the first one go down, it helps you to get rhythm and how to shoot it that way,” Green said. “When you miss the first one, you have to make adjustments.”

The Spurs also have to play better defense to beat the Clippers.

They allowed the Clippers to make 51.3% of their shots, 55.6% of their three-pointers.

“I think when we talk about aggressiveness, it’s just overall,” Ginobili said. “It’s just be a little more physical. Don’t let them go to their spots they want to go to. Be more alert the way they were.”