Rowan Kavner
PLAYA VISTA, Calif. – The wait is over, as the Clippers now know they’ll face the reigning champion Spurs in the first round of the NBA Playoffs starting Sunday at 7:30 p.m. in Los Angeles.
Home court in the first round belongs to the No. 3 Clippers (56-26) after San Antonio (55-27) dropped to No. 6, despite winning 11 of their final 12 games of the season. The Spurs lost in the regular season finale to the Pelicans, who needed to win to get the final playoff spot in the Western Conference.
Before knowing how it would all unfold, Clippers head coach Doc Rivers was asked earlier this week about teams potentially trying to avoid the Spurs, who ended up closing the year winning 21 of their final 25 games.
Rivers pointed out that the Spurs aren’t the only team in a groove, as his Clippers enter the NBA playoffs having won 14 of their final 15 games of the regular season.
“We’re pretty hot, too,” Rivers said. “Our goal is to win a title. You’re not going to avoid anybody. You’ve got to play.”
Four different teams could’ve ended up the Clippers’ first-round opponent entering Wednesday night’s action. The Clippers would’ve ended up the No. 2 seed playing the Mavericks in the first round if the Spurs and Rockets both lost, and they could’ve ended up the No. 3 seed playing the Rockets had the Rockets lost and the Spurs and Grizzlies both won.
There were a handful of scenarios that could’ve led to the Clippers playing the Grizzlies, but there was only one scenario Wednesday night that could’ve led to the Clippers and Spurs meeting in the first round. The Spurs had to lose to the Pelicans, the Rockets had to beat the Jazz and the Grizzlies had to beat the Pacers.
That’s exactly what happened, as the Clippers and Spurs, who split their regular season series, will meet in the first round.
The Rockets locked up the No. 2 seed and a matchup against the in-state rival Mavericks by dismantling the Jazz around the same time the Pelicans were nursing a sizable lead on the Spurs. The Clippers knew at that point they’d end up the No. 3 seed, playing either the Spurs or the Grizzlies.
After the Pelicans held on, the Clippers’ first-round opponent was in the hands of the Grizzlies. Memphis took control of the game early and cruised to a victory at home, locking up the No. 5 seed and a matchup against the No. 4 seed Trail Blazers in a wild finish to the regular season.
Here’s the full schedule for the series between the Clippers and Spurs:
Game 1: Sun, April 19 – San Antonio at L.A. Clippers 7:30 p.m.
Game 2: Wed, April 22 - San Antonio at L.A. Clippers 7:30 p.m.
Game 3: Fri, April 24 – L.A. Clippers at San Antonio 6:30 p.m.
Game 4: Sun, April 26 – L.A. Clippers at San Antonio 12:30 p.m.
Game 5 (if nec.): Tues, April 28 – San Antonio at L.A. Clippers
Game 6 (if nec.): Thurs, April 30 – L.A. Clippers at San Antonio
Game 7 (if nec.): Sat, May 2 – San Antonio at L.A. Clippers
Here’s the schedule for the opening weekend of playoff action:
Saturday, April 18 (all times PT)
Washington (5) at Toronto (4) – 9:30 a.m.
New Orleans (8) at Golden State (1) – 12:30 p.m.
Milwaukee (6) at Chicago (3) – 4:00 p.m.
Dallas (7) at Houston (2) – 6:30 p.m.
Sunday, April 19 (all times PT)
Boston (7) at Cleveland (2) – 12 p.m.
Brooklyn (8) at Atlanta (1) – 2:30 p.m.
Portland (4) at Memphis (5) – 5 p.m.
San Antonio (6) at LA Clippers (3) – 7:30 p.m.