Clippers send Spurs to first loss of season

All three of the Clippers’ victories this season have come against quality opponents.

The Clippers’ 106-84 win on Wednesday night at Staples Center was the most impressive of them all because it was against an undefeated San Antonio Spurs team that had the best record in the NBA.

Four of the five Clippers’ starters scored in double figures, led by the double-double efforts of Blake Griffin (22 points, 10 rebounds), DeAndre Jordan (20 points, 11 rebounds) and Chris Paul (10 points 12 assists).

“This was a big game. They knocked us out of the playoffs a couple of months ago and they swept us,” said Jordan, referring to San Antonio’s 4-0 sweep of the Clippers in the second round of the playoffs last season.

“That was a tough pill to swallow. And we lost two games in a row so we were really looking forward to tonight.”

After talking about how nice it was to see reserves Jamal Crawford (10 points), Eric Bledsoe (15 points) and Matt Barnes (12 points, score in double figures, Paul was asked why his right wrist was wrapped after the game.

He said it was “preventive” and that it was a reminder that he had surgery to repair a torn ligament in his right thumb in August.

“It’s preventive from swelling,” Paul said. “I’m OK.”

The Clippers have defeated the Memphis Grizzlies, Lakers and Spurs, three teams that were in the playoffs last season and three teams that figure to reach the postseason again.

The Clippers have lost to the Golden State Warriors and Cleveland Cavaliers, two teams that missed the playoffs last season and two teams not expected to reach the postseason this season.

So who are the Clippers?

“That’s a good question,” Paul said. “We’re trying to figure that out.

“We can’t be a team that plays to the level of our competition, because it’s a long season. I think tonight we were so successful because of our defense.”

It was the most active Jordan has been all season. He blocked shots, got two steals, ran the court and hustled.

And there was the time in the third quarter he stripped Tim Duncan of the ball, passed it to Paul and raced downcourt to get a lob dunk off a pass from Paul.

There was the moment he beat everyone to the basket for a tip dunk in the third.

Jordan made 10 of 12 shots, had four blocks and two steals in 27 minutes.

“We had a really good talk after we lost that second game the other day,” Jordan said. “We all need to pick it up. From Chris, Blake, me, Jamal, Lamar [Odom], Ronny [Turiaf]. Whoever. We all know that we need to play better and play with a little bit more aggression.”

broderick.turner@latimes.com

Twitter: @BA_Turner