On January 1, 2025, Beijing time, the NBA regular season saw the 16-win and 16-loss Spurs host the 19-win and 13-loss Clippers. The Clippers were playing back-to-back games, having reversed a 14-point deficit to defeat the Pelicans the previous day. Their physical condition was not as good as the Spurs. This was the second meeting between the two teams this season. In their first encounter, the Spurs, who had led by 26 points, were reversed by the Clippers. They were eager to seek revenge today. Could the Spurs do it? The Spurs' starting lineup was Paul, Vassell, Barnes, Sohan, and Wembanyama, while the Clippers, with Leonard absent, started with Harden, Dunn, Powell, Derrick Jones, and Zubac.
In the first quarter, Wembanyama scored six consecutive points, Harden made a three-pointer, and Zubac made one of two free throws. Paul made a mid-range shot, and the Spurs led 8-4. Harden made both free throws, Sohan and Wembanyama scored six points in a row, and the Spurs stopped the Clippers at 14-6. After the timeout, Harden made a layup, Vassell scored four points in a row, and the lead reached 10 points. Dunn and Harden scored, Wembanyama continued to score, and Keldon made both free throws, with the lead at 14 points. At the end of the first quarter, the Spurs led 31-17, with Wembanyama scoring 17 points in the first quarter.
In the second quarter, Bamba made a layup and Powell made a three-pointer. Keldon responded with five points in a row, and the lead remained at 14 points. Coffey made a three-pointer, Wembanyama, Trey Jones, and Keldon responded, and the lead was 17 points. After the timeout, Shampagnie made a three-pointer, and the lead reached 20 points. Dunn and Zubac scored six points in a row to stop the Spurs. After the timeout, Castle made a layup, and Derrick Jones made a three-pointer, with the lead at 13 points. Collins, Barnes, and Paul expanded the lead to 23 points. After the timeout, Paul stole the ball and assisted Wembanyama for a dunk, with the lead at 25 points. Powell made both free throws, and Castle made both free throws in response, with the lead still at 25 points. Powell made a three-pointer and a layup, with the lead at 20 points. At halftime, the Spurs led 63-43.
Wembanyama made 7 of 13 shots in the first half, scoring 21 points, 7 rebounds, 3 assists, and 2 blocks. Paul made both of his two shots, scoring 5 points, 2 rebounds, 3 assists, and 2 steals. Harden made 4 of 8 shots, scoring 13 points and 3 rebounds. Powell made 3 of 7 shots, scoring 12 points, 4 rebounds, and 2 assists.
In the third quarter, Wembanyama and Castle scored four points in a row, with the Spurs leading by 24 points. Powell made a three-pointer, and Harden made both free throws, with the lead reduced to 19 points. Castle expanded the lead to 24 points. Zubac and Derrick Jones scored, and Wembanyama and Vassell responded, with the lead still at 24 points. Harden made a mid-range shot, Barnes and Paul scored five points in a row, with the lead at 27 points, stopping the game. After the timeout, Porter made a layup, Castle and Keldon responded, with the lead at 29 points. Coffey and Derrick Jones reduced the lead to 23 points. Wembanyama and Barnes expanded the lead to 28 points. At the end of the third quarter, the Spurs led 91-63.
In the fourth quarter, Keldon made a layup, with the Spurs leading by 30 points. Hield scored four points in a row, and Barnes, Shampagnie, and Keldon responded, with the lead reaching 34 points. After the timeout, Brown made a layup, and Shampagnie responded with a 3+1, with the lead at 36 points. With seven minutes left in the game, the suspense was lost, and the Spurs eventually won 122-86 against the Clippers.
Wembanyama played only 26 minutes, making 10 of 18 shots (1 of 6 from three-point range) to score 27 points, 9 rebounds, 5 assists, and 3 blocks. He set an NBA record with at least one three-pointer and one block in 24 consecutive games, and also set an existing NBA record with blocks in 67 consecutive games. Paul made 3 of 5 shots to score 7 points, 9 rebounds, 4 assists, and 3 steals, setting a rebounding record in his Spurs career. Keldon scored 17 points and 6 rebounds, Castle scored 15 points, 4 rebounds, and 4 assists, and Barnes scored 11 points and 4 rebounds.
Harden made 5 of 11 shots to score 17 points, 3 rebounds, and 1 assist. Powell made 4 of 12 shots to score 15 points, 5 rebounds, and 2 assists. Zubac scored 5 points and 7 rebounds. Coffey scored 14 points and 2 rebounds. Derrick Jones scored 6 points and 2 rebounds.
After the loss, the Clippers dropped from fifth to seventh in the West. The Nuggets became fifth, and the Lakers came in sixth. However, the Lakers also had a game today, so the rankings are still uncertain. After the win, the Spurs continued to rank ninth in the West.