The San Antonio Spurs had their work cut out for them from the start before taking on the Los Angeles Clippers on Monday night. The Spurs were thin heading into the game with forward Kawhi Leonard nursing an injury, and they became even thinner when Stephen Jackson broke his pinky in the first quarter. Given that they were missing some key players against one of the best teams in the Western Conference, you could argue that a 92-87 loss is a moral victory. Just don’t say it to Gregg Popovich.
“I thought for a portion of that game we were an embarrassment,” Popovich said after the loss according to Spurs Nation.
The Spurs went 3-for-8 from the floor and were outscored 29-14 in the second quarter. They also turned the ball over seven times during that stretch, which is likely what Popovich was embarrassed by. San Antonio had been leading by as much as 10 before that run, but L.A. took a five-point lead into halftime and held onto to it the remainder of the way.
Pop hates losing almost as much as he hates doing interviews with sideline reporters during a game, so it’s not surprising to see him heated after a loss that many saw coming. Excuses don’t fly in San Antonio.
Photo credit: Jayne Kamin-Oncea-US PRESSWIRE
