LOS ANGELES_Chris Paul was back in the Los Angeles Clippers' starting lineup Friday night, his return finally making them whole for the first time in just over two months, his presence sorely needed as L.A. enters the stretch drive of the regular season.
Paul came back from having been sidelined for 14 games recovering from surgery to repair a ligament tear in his left thumb to a game that was a defensive standoff between the Clippers and San Antonio Spurs.
The Clippers were not able to get the important defensive stops when the game hung in the balance, dropping a 105-97 game to the Spurs on Friday night at Staples Center.
The five weeks Paul had been out after his procedure didn't slow him down enough for the All-Star to produce 17 points, five assists and six rebounds in 33 minutes.
He wore a small wrap around the thumb for protection, but Paul still made six of 14 shots, including two of three from three-point range.
Paul made his first shot he took, a sign of good things to come.
Blake Griffin, meanwhile, got rolling after being hit in the face by Spurs reserve Dewyane Dedmon. Griffin, who went down on the court bleeding, went to locker room for a moment and came back out with a band aid beneath his right eye.
Griffin grew angry and then went to work, scoring 29 points, grabbing nine rebounds and handing out five assists.
Austin Rivers had another strong game for the Clippers, scoring 23 points. DeAndre Jordan had 14 points and eight rebounds.
But that wasn't enough to stop the Spurs, who now trail the season series against the Clippers 2-1.
Kawhi Leonard led the Spurs with 21 points and six assists. LaMarcus Aldridge had 15 points and 11 rebounds, Pau Gasol 17 points and 11 rebounds and Tony Parker 17 points.
The Spurs kept control of the game in the fourth quarter, opening a 13-point lead at one point. Either Leonard or Parker or Gasol made sure the Clippers never got close enough in the fourth.
Times had been tough for the Clippers with Paul out. They went 6-8 while he recovered. But the difficulties for the Clippers actually began on Dec. 18, which was the last time the Clippers had a completely healthy team.
That game at Washington was the last time Paul and Griffin played in a game together. Griffin went down after that game because of a right-knee injury that required surgery. Griffin missed 18 games.
Paul had wanted to play at Golden State on Thursday night, but Rivers said it was best to hold out his point guard.
