LOS ANGELES The ball bounced delicately around the rim and the pivotal fifth game of a thrilling first round series teetered along with it.
DeAndre Jordan leaped up and tapped it in an instant too early.
The San Antonio Spurs got the biggest bounce in a game full of them and the champs landed on the brink of the second round.
Spurs rely on several ingredients to top Clippers
San Antonio used its postseason experience to earn just enough of an edge to win a pivotal Game 5.
Jordan takes blame for 'dumb play' lateDeAndre Jordan had his best game of the playoffs on Tuesday but that was the furthest thing from his mind after the Clippers' tough Game 5 loss.
The Ten Top NBA stories from TuesdayTim Duncan scored 21 points before Jordan was called for basket interference with 4.3 seconds left and the Spurs hung on for a 111 107 victory over the Los Angeles Clippers in Game 5 on Tuesday night taking a 3 2 series lead.
San Antonio earned the chance to close it out at home on Thursday night but only after its lead dwindled to 108 107 in the frantic final minute at Staples Center.
Blake Griffin launched a leaping leaner off an inbounds play with 6.9 seconds left but it rattled around the basket. Jordan who had 21 points and 14 rebounds grazed the ball while it appeared to be inside the cylinder.
It was a dumb play said Jordan who sat at his locker long after the game ended. I hit the ball. We did a good job fighting to put us in a situation to go up one. You can't blame anybody on that but me. I tipped the ball.
The officials decisively waved off the basket while Jordan waved his hands pleadingly but the Clippers still hoped for a reversal on video review. The good news went to the Spurs who have thrived in this series with slim margins of success none smaller than this.
That was the play of the game said Manu Ginobili who scored 14 points off the bench. That's why I say we got lucky. The ball was going in and he happened to touch it. That would have put us down one. Instead it was a completely different ballgame. We got a little lucky on the play.
When the interference call was upheld the Spurs' bench cheered while the Clippers' fans greeted it with resigned acceptance. The Spurs hit three late free throws to pad the final score.
I thought it was the right call Clippers coach Doc Rivers said. I couldn't tell you know and I couldn't see it. ... I hope to God it was the right call.
Duncan capped a vintage performance with a key block on Griffin in the final minute while Kawhi Leonard scored 18 points for the five time NBA champion Spurs who won their second straight game in Los Angeles. The champs took a seven point lead in the fourth and hung on after the Clippers cut it to one on Matt Barnes' free throws with 30.8 seconds left.
It was anybody's game Spurs coach Gregg Popovich said. It's just two really competitive groups. A missed shot here a missed shot there really.
Griffin had 30 points and 14 rebounds but missed two free throws with 39 seconds to play. Los Angeles missed 16 free throws overall and went 1 for 14 on 3 pointers while getting pushed to the brink.
It's tough but the series isn't over Griffin said. We can't think like that.
This otherwise entertaining series grinded to a crawl in a lengthy third quarter featuring 35 combined free throws but it picked up again in a tense fourth. The Spurs intentionally fouled Jordan eight times in the middle quarters resuming their hack happy assault on the Clippers' poor shooting center in the middle quarters.
San Antonio made a decisive 10 4 surge in the final minutes aided by a technical foul on Chris Paul who had 19 points and 10 assists.
It's tough but we can't get it back Paul said. We've got to go to San Antonio and play with a sense of urgency.
Rivers hoped his team would respond better to its second victory than its first in a series filled with serious momentum shifts. Los Angeles won the opener comfortably but then lost two straight in an overtime thriller and a blowout.
Los Angeles followed with a gritty Game 4 in San Antonio evening the series that was widely expected to be the best in the NBA's opening playoff round.
The series' fever pitch extended right into Game 5 in front of a success hungry crowd waving red towels.
San Antonio kept it close in the first half with superior bench play Along with Ginobili Patty Mills added 13 and Boris Diaw had 10 off the bench including a remarkable fling at the basket to beat the shot clock with 2 52 to play.
HACK AWAY
The Spurs intentionally fouled Jordan three times late in the first half resuming the divisive strategy that even Popovich claims he uses reluctantly. Jordan a dismal free throw shooter missed four of six before Rivers pulled him out. San Antonio committed five more intentional fouls against Jordan in the third quarter before Rivers pulled him again. He finished 7 for 16 at the line.
TIP INS
Spurs San Antonio has won 11 of its 14 best of seven series when tied 2 2. ... The Spurs' bench outscored the Clippers' reserves 48 17.
Clippers Rivers barely dipped into his bench using only three reserves. Spencer Hawes and Hedo Turkoglu never got into the game. ... J.J. Redick fouled out with 13 points.
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