Jamal Crawford/:Photo courtesy of Los Angeles Clippers

Jamal Crawford scored nine points off the bench and Paul Pierce scored eight to help the Clippers take a lead of 42-34 over the San Antonio Spurs into the halftime break Thursday night at Staples Center.

Patty Mills scored seven off the bench for San Antonio and LaMarcus Aldridge scored six.

The short-handed Clippers are without Blake Griffin (hand), Austin Rivers (hand), Pablo Prigioni (illness) and newly acquired Jeff Green.