LOS ANGELES -- If the Los Angeles Clippers are to advance to their first conference finals and perhaps even further, they likely will have to get past the San Antonio Spurs. Over the past three seasons, the Spurs and Oklahoma City Thunder have dominated the West, while the Clippers have tried to get out of the second round for the first time in franchise history.

Their first test against the Spurs came Monday night in Los Angeles, and after leading through the first 46 minutes, the Clippers collapsed in the end and lost 89-85 when the Spurs went on a late 12-0 run to take the lead and the win.

Comeback of the night: The Clippers were in control for most of the game but unraveled after Chris Paul gave the Clippers an 82-75 lead with 5:48 left. The Clippers did not score again until Jamal Crawford hit three free throws with 25 seconds left.

The Spurs went on a 12-0 run during that time and took their first lead of the game when Kawhi Leonard made a layup with 1:44 left. Leonard then intercepted a potential lob dunk, and Boris Diaw extended the Spurs' lead before Leonard stole the ball from Paul and assisted on a Manu Ginobli layup. Paul could have tied the game in the final seconds, but his miss sealed the Clippers' fate, as did Blake Griffin's rebound and subsequent technical for calling a timeout the Clippers didn't have.

Question of the night: Why do the Clippers insist on shooting more than 20 three-pointers on nights when they can't hit any? This has been a growing trend this season, as they were 5-for-22 from beyond the arc and continued to jack up shots from long range despite not being able to hit many.

Stat of the night: Everyone has been harping on the Clippers' rebounding woes, but they finally outrebounded a team (44-39) and ended up on the losing end.

Players of the game: Paul and Griffin struggled at the end of the game but did have solid nights. Paul finished with 12 points, 10 rebounds and 9 assists, while Griffin had 23 points, 10 rebounds and 6 assists.