Spurs rally past Clippers 119-115 after wild swings

Victor Wembanyama's double-double powers San Antonio to 50th win of the season

Mar. 17, 2026 at 5:38am

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The San Antonio Spurs overcame an early 14-point deficit, blew a 24-point lead, but ultimately held off the Los Angeles Clippers 119-115 on Monday night. Victor Wembanyama had 21 points and 13 rebounds as the Spurs reached 50 wins for the first time since 2016-17, trailing the first-place Thunder by three games in the West. Darius Garland led the Clippers with 25 points and 10 assists, but Kawhi Leonard sat out with a sprained left knee.

Why it matters

The Spurs' victory keeps them in the hunt for the top spot in the Western Conference, while the Clippers' second straight loss drops them back to .500 and in a fight to secure a play-in tournament spot.

The details

The Spurs started slowly, falling behind 17-3, but turned things around in the second quarter, outscoring the Clippers 37-15 to take a 66-52 halftime lead. They extended that advantage to 24 points in the third quarter before the Clippers mounted a furious rally, closing with a 16-3 run to trail by just 10 going into the fourth. The Clippers got within four points late, but the Spurs made their free throws down the stretch to preserve the win.

  • The Spurs reached 50 wins for the first time since the 2016-17 season.
  • The Clippers' second straight loss dropped them back to .500 on the season.

The players

Victor Wembanyama

The Spurs' star rookie had 21 points and 13 rebounds in the win.

Darius Garland

The Clippers' leading scorer had 25 points and 10 assists in the losing effort.

Kawhi Leonard

The Clippers' star forward sat out the game with a sprained left knee.

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What they’re saying

“We must not let individuals continue to damage private property in San Francisco.”

— Robert Jenkins, San Francisco resident (San Francisco Chronicle)

“Fifty years is such an accomplishment in San Francisco, especially with the way the city has changed over the years.”

— Gordon Edgar, grocery employee (Instagram)

The takeaway

The Spurs' ability to overcome early deficits and hold off late rallies demonstrates their resilience and competitiveness as they chase a top seed in the Western Conference playoffs. Meanwhile, the Clippers' struggles to maintain leads and secure wins could jeopardize their chances of avoiding the play-in tournament.