The final time the San Antonio Spurs confronted the Los Angeles Clippers, we noticed a viscerally emotional Victor Wembanyama. The 25-point comeback on the second evening of a back-to-back was one of many hardest video games of Wembanyama’s life, based on him. Now the Spurs might be higher rested as they journey to Los Angeles for a rematch with the Clippers, and the primary sport of a back-to-back.
They’ll face a far totally different Clippers staff on Monday. Kawhi Leonard is uncertain for the sport as he recovers from an ankle damage. San Antonio might be with out Dylan Harper, who misses his second sport with a calf contusion, and Luke Kornet, who will sit with knee soreness.
Even with out Leonard, the Clippers are nonetheless a tricky defensive staff. But it surely’s powerful to think about Los Angeles creating an excessive amount of offense with out their star. Wembanyama and the Spurs will look to construct off their convincing win in opposition to the Charlotte Hornets on Saturday with a highway victory in opposition to a Clippers squad that has received seven of its final ten video games.
March sixteenth, 2026 | 9 PM CT
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Spurs Accidents: Dylan Harper – Out (calf), Luke Kornet – Out (knee), Harrison Ingram – Questionable (G League), David Jones-Garcia – Out (G League), Emanuel Miller – Questionable (G League)
Clippers Accidents: Bradley Beal – Out (hip), Kawhi Leonard – Uncertain (ankle), Yanic Konan Niederhauser – Out (foot)
Wembanyama has been taking part in extra minutes, particularly in nearer video games. He logged 38 minutes in opposition to Detroit and 36 minutes in opposition to Boston. With out Kornet, he may very well be tasked with extra minutes on Monday evening. That may possible come right down to how efficient Mason Plumlee is in his backup minutes. Plumlee has regarded stable in his restricted minutes up to now. He’s adept at working dribble handoffs and hasn’t been a defensive legal responsibility. He’s a bit undersized, which can damage him in opposition to the bigger bigs on the Clippers like Brook Lopez. Plumlee’s skill to maintain issues shut whereas Wembanyama sits might be an important facet of the sport.
Controlling the rebounding battle
The Clippers are one of many worst rebounding groups within the NBA. They’re twenty ninth in whole rebounding and twenty sixth in offensive boards. There’s a distinct benefit for the Spurs, who’re the most effective groups within the league at attacking the glass. Shedding Kornet actually doesn’t assist, however in opposition to a poor rebounding staff like Los Angeles, the Spurs ought to have loads of our bodies to safe further offensive possessions and safe stops on the opposite finish.
San Antonio has regarded nice once they can rise up and down. The Clippers are one of many slowest-paced groups within the NBA, and so they don’t flip the ball over a ton. The Spurs can apply defensive stress and transfer shortly off missed pictures and giveaways to assault Los Angeles earlier than they will set their protection. Particularly with Leonard sitting, and the offensive hierarchy of the Clippers getting thrown off, the Spurs have a chance to create a little bit of chaos in Los Angeles by getting up and down to attain straightforward buckets.
