Blake Griffin/Photo courtesy of Los Angeles Clippers, NBA.com

The Clippers on Tuesday appeared primed for an early blowout of the San Antonio Spurs in Game 5 after taking a 27-13 first-quarter lead. But the defending-champion Spurs embarked on a 15-0 run to lead by a point before the Clippers eventually took a 54-53 lead into the halftime break.

Blake Griffin scored 21 points in the half for the Clippers. Kawhi Leonard and Patty Mills scored 10 apiece for San Antonio.

The series is tied 2-2.