The San Antonio Spurs beat the LA Clippers 118-99 on Thursday, April 2, 2026, at Intuit Dome, taking control with a dominant first half behind De’Aaron Fox, who led San Antonio with 22 points, eight rebounds, five assists, and three steals in the road win.
Quarter-by-Quarter Breakdown
First Quarter
San Antonio set the tone quickly, opening with sharp ball movement and efficient shot-making on the way to a 33-25 lead after one. The Spurs consistently got into the paint and found clean looks, while the Clippers struggled to match that offensive rhythm early.
Second Quarter
The Spurs widened the gap in the second, outscoring the Clippers 35-19 to take a 68-44 halftime lead. That stretch proved decisive. San Antonio continued to execute in the half court, and the Clippers had trouble generating perimeter production, a theme that followed them through much of the night.
Third Quarter
The Clippers responded with their best basketball after the break, winning the third quarter 34-19. Kawhi Leonard helped lead the push as LA cut into the deficit with improved pace and more productive offensive possessions. For a moment, the game shifted toward a possible late rally.
Fourth Quarter
San Antonio answered in the final period, outscoring LA 31-21 to close the door. The Spurs regained control with efficient offense and steady defensive possessions, preventing the Clippers from building on their third-quarter momentum and finishing off a 19-point victory.
Key Performers
San Antonio Spurs:
De’Aaron Fox led the Spurs with 22 points, eight rebounds, five assists, and three steals. Devin Vassell added major value on the glass with a team-high 10 rebounds, and San Antonio’s overall offensive balance stood out as the team produced 30 assists and shot 53.4% from the field.
LA Clippers:
Kawhi Leonard was the Clippers’ top performer with 24 points, six rebounds, and five assists. He carried much of LA’s offensive workload, but the Clippers could not find enough support from long range, finishing just 5-for-27 from three-point range.
NerdSports Stat: San Antonio won by 19 even though De’Aaron Fox scored only 22 points, a reflection of how complete the Spurs were as a team: they finished plus-10 in rebounds, plus-10 in assists, and plus-7 in made three-pointers.
Game Analysis
This game was largely decided by San Antonio’s control of the first half and its efficiency across the box score. The Spurs shot 47-for-88 overall, good for 53.4%, compared with 40-for-93 for the Clippers. They also made 12 three-pointers to LA’s five and created a much cleaner offensive flow with 30 assists.
The Clippers’ biggest issue was perimeter shooting. Their 18.5% mark from beyond the arc made it difficult to sustain any comeback effort, even after a strong third quarter. LA did generate more field-goal attempts, but San Antonio’s shot quality and finishing gave the visitors the edge throughout most of the night.
The rebounding margin also leaned toward the Spurs, 48-38, giving them added control over pace and extra possessions. Once San Antonio rebuilt its cushion in the fourth quarter, the Clippers were left chasing the game again without enough outside scoring to seriously threaten.
Closing Context
The win moves San Antonio to 59-18, strengthening its position near the top of the Western Conference as the regular season winds down. The Clippers fell to 39-38 and remain in a tighter race in the West, making every remaining game meaningful as they look to improve their postseason standing.
Frequently Asked Questions
San Antonio Spurs defeated LA Clippers 118-99 on April 2, 2026.
Kawhi Leonard scored 24 points on 43.0% shooting.
After the win, San Antonio Spurs sits 59-18 in the Western Conference.
De’Aaron Fox was the standout performer with 22 points, eight rebounds, five assists, and three steals.
