Clippers Face Reigning Champ Spurs in Make-or-Break Game 7 Match

As they even the series of the playoffs' first round 3-3, Game 7 is crucial for both the Los Angeles Clippers and 2014 NBA champions San Antonio Spurs as this would be a make-or-break game for the two teams.

On Saturday night, they will go against each other for the last time this season in Los Angeles just about the same time Manny Pacquiao finally faces Floyd Mayweather Jr. in Las Vegas, the The Associated Press (AP) noted.

The same report added that the two teams have had an amazing series, each winning on the road twice and a margin of 10 points separates their overall scores for the first six games, with the Spurs leading, of course.

With the Spurs' victory last year and their four other championship titles, AP said losing it on Saturday would not ruin the reputation and legacy of the team.

"We understand the pressure that's there and we understand the magnitude of the game. We understand that we can play better than we did (in Game 6). Hopefully we will clean a whole lot of that up and play a much better game in this short turnaround. I know we are capable of it. We will be ready for it," Spurs star Tim Duncan said, as noted by AP.

The Clippers, on the other hand, still have a lot to lose but they appear to be ready to give the Spurs an answer for every attack.

Clippers power forward Blake Griffin admitted that they are going against a really great team.

"I don't think you can look at a team over the past 20 years or so that has been better. Duncan is a great player and one of the best players of all time. They have been in this situation. They went into a Game 7 with Dallas last year in the first round and they ended up winning the whole thing. They have been in this situation and they know not to panic," he told reporters after the game.

But the Spurs' performance on Game 6 lacked something as the Clippers were able to force a Game 7 with a 102-96 win.

"Our execution at the offensive end was really poor. There's no excuse for it. We should be embarrassed at the way we came out for a close-out game," said Spurs coach Gregg Popovich in a Washington Post report.

One of the key advantages that the Spurs can use for Game 7, according to Washington Post, is their bench production which it noted is a bit down from the season average in terms of scoring.

"This is an area where the Spurs can - and need to - exploit what's likely Los Angeles's biggest flaw: an ineffective second unit," the Post suggested.

It will be an intense game on Saturday night as both teams battle it our to advance to the next round of the playoffs.