Spurs outlast Clippers in overtime thriller to knot series 1-1

Tim Duncan has still never found himself down 2-0 in a first-round series. 

In the most thrilling game of the postseason so far, Duncan's San Antonio Spurs outlasted the Los Angeles Clippers 111-107 in overtime.

The Spurs looked, for the bulk of the second half, like they'd emerge with the victory in regulation. The Clippers were making more noise, flying all over the place and racking up eye-popping highlights, but the scoreboard somehow kept outpacing them, as the Spurs continued to roll along calmly and efficiently. 

On a night in which momentum whizzed back and forth with all the rapidity and unpredictability of a Kawhi Leonard closeout, the Spurs managed to build a 10-point lead midway through the fourth quarter. 

At that point, as they began to hack DeAndre Jordan to put the 40 percent free-throw shooter on the line and forestall a comeback, the Spurs' offense went stone cold. Over a five-minute stretch, they came up empty on nine of 10 possessions, allowing the Clippers to knot the game up with just over a minute to play. 

Duncan had a turn-back-the-clock game - which have become commonplace enough that we may no longer be able to call them that - but after roasting Jordan for the majority of the night, Jordan got the best of him on a crucial possession down the stretch, helping the Clippers take things to an extra frame. 

In the end, though, the Spurs simply had an ounce more left in the tank. Their offense got humming again in overtime, while the Clippers looked spent after the furious fourth-quarter comeback. A series that looks far too close to call right now is headed back to San Antonio tied 1-1. 

Gregg Popovich is thrilled. 

Chris Paul is not. 

Turning Point

Tony Parker gave the Spurs nothing before being forced to leave with an Achilles injury, but Patty Mills had come off the bench to give them some massive minutes. 

At the end of regulation, the Clippers had the ball, up two, with just eight seconds separating the game clock and shot clock. With a chance to effectively put the game on ice, an overeager Blake Griffin lost the handle while looking to drive to the hoop, and the Spurs quickly got going in transition the other way. 

With under 10 seconds to go, it was Mills, one of the fastest players in the league, leaking out behind the defense. He took a feed from Boris Diaw on the run, got fouled on a layup attempt, and then calmly sank the game-tying free throws. 

The game was ultimately won in overtime, and Paul missed a would-be game-winner at the regulation buzzer after Mills tied it, but that wild sequence proved to be the one that swung the contest in the Spurs' favor. 

Oh yeah, and Mills added eight points in OT to finish with a playoff career-high 18. 

Star Performers

It would be impossible to choose between the two competing power forwards in this game, who were equally brilliant despite being separated in age by 13 years. 

Duncan was virtually unstoppable in the post, and from the opening tip was at his measured, methodical best. He backed down, pumped, pivoted, hook-shot, floated and banked his way to 28 points, on 14-of-23 shooting, and tossed in 11 rebounds, four assists, two steals and a block. 

Duncan will turn 39 on Saturday. He played 44 minutes. He cannot be killed. 

On the other side was Griffin, who despite the costly late-game turnover had one of his most complete games of the season. 

Griffin scored in a variety of ways, distributed brilliantly - especially when playing the high-low game with Jordan - played some tough defense, and finished with 29 points, 12 rebounds and 11 assists for his first career playoff triple-double. 

As many noted, the dual performances presented a study in contrasts. 

If metaphors aren't your thing, here's that contrast in its visual form: 

Highlight Reel

Griffin started off the game with a beautiful, inside-out hesitation dribble ripped straight from the Chris Paul handbook. 

Later, continuing to channel Paul, he blew past two defenders and dropped it off to Jordan, who dutifully finished with a monster dunk over Tiago Splitter. 

But Leonard may have produced the highlight of the night with this vicious shake of J.J. Redick, followed by a silky fall-away jumper. 

Series at a Glance

Game 1: Clippers 107, Spurs 102 
Game 2: Clippers 107, Spurs 111
Game 3: Friday, April 24, 9:30 p.m. ET
Game 4: Sunday, April 26, 3:30 p.m. ET
Game 5: Tuesday, April 28, TBD 
Game 6*: Thursday, April 30, TBD
Game 7*: Saturday, May 2, TBD

*If necessary