Los Angeles @ San Antonio preview

Last Meeting ( Nov 29, 2019 ) L.A. Clippers 97, San Antonio 107

The Los Angeles Clippers are trying to find consistency on both ends of the floor after dropping two of their last three games and are learning to maintain composure when things aren't going their way would be a step in the right direction. The Clippers will try to get through a game without a technical foul and get back in the win column when they visit the San Antonio Spurs on Saturday.

Los Angeles guards Lou Williams and Patrick Beverley were ejected late in Thursday's 122-117 home loss to the Houston Rockets and the team was handed a total of four technical fouls while squandering a 15-point lead. "We lost our composure as a team," Clippers coach Doc Rivers told reporters. "It's a good learning experience for us. I'd rather for it to happen now than in the fourth quarter of a playoff game. We will see if that is a learning experience. The techs have to be. That is something we can control." The Spurs are slowly climbing back towards .500 with wins in five of the last eight games - a stretch that began with a 107-97 home win over Los Angeles on Nov. 29. San Antonio squandered a 25-point lead in a 109-107 loss at Houston on Monday but bounced back by holding off the Brooklyn Nets 118-105 on Thursday.

TV: 8:30 p.m. ET, FS Prime Ticket (Los Angeles), CW35 (San Antonio)

ABOUT THE CLIPPERS (21-9): Los Angeles is embarking on a three-game road trip that finishes in its own arena, where the team will serve as the visitors in a showdown against the Lakers on Christmas Day. The Clippers got 34 points and nine rebounds from Paul George and 25 and nine from Kawhi Leonard on Thursday but struggled to respond when the Rockets became the aggressors in the second half. "We had a big lead and came out and kind of gave it up," Rivers told reporters. "I thought it was like when you get jumped. I thought that's what happened. We didn't react to it very well."

ABOUT THE SPURS (11-16): San Antonio's win on Thursday was led by some hot shooting off the bench from point guard Patty Mills, who scored 27 points on 8-of-14 shooting and went 7-of-10 from beyond the arc. Mills scored 26 points in an overtime triumph over the Phoenix Suns in Mexico City last Saturday but was held to four points in 1-of-4 shooting in Monday's loss to the Rockets. The Spurs also got a solid game on Thursday from power forward LaMarcus Aldridge, who collected 20 points and 10 rebounds for his fourth double-double in five games.

BUZZER BEATERS

1. Spurs SG DeMar DeRozan is 9-of-27 from the floor over the last two games.

2. Clippers PF JaMychal Green (bruised tailbone) sat out Thursday and is day-to-day.

3. The home team took each of the first two meetings, with Los Angeles earning a 103-97 victory at home on Oct. 31 and San Antonio returning the favor on Nov. 29.

PREDICTION: Clippers 113, Spurs 106