INGLEWOOD — It was a random suggestion, maybe even silly. Should either James Harden or Norman Powell, the Clippers’ best offensive threats, be on the floor at all times?

While not a serious question, coach Tyronn Lue is searching for ways to secure victories, especially down the stretch of games. On Monday, he might have stumbled upon a solution, and it didn’t involve his number one option.

A group of four bench players and center Ivica Zubac got the Clippers back into a game that was slowly slipping away, trimming a double-digit deficit to five points early in the fourth quarter.

Then Powell re-entered the game and the guard pushed the Clippers to a 113-104 victory over the San Antonio Spurs at Intuit Dome, their first home victory this season.

The victory snapped a three-game losing streak for the Clippers (3-4).

Powell scored nine points in the final quarter and finished with a team-high 23 points.

Harden came back in and scored five of his 17 points in the final 6:45. He also had eight rebounds and four assists. Zubac finished with 17 points and 13 rebounds.

With the Clippers struggling to close out games, Lue was looking for ways the team can hold late leads. He said they need all the scoring they can get down the stretch.

Maybe at the start of games, too.

Their offensive woes popped up in the first quarter Monday as the Spurs jumped out to a 14-point lead enroute to a 40-14 advantage at the end of the first quarter. And that’s with both Harden and Powell in the game.

Both got off to slow starts. They were slow-footed against the Victor Wembanyama-led Spurs and were outplayed by 39-year-old Chris Paul, who had 12 points and 10 assists.

Wembanyama had 24 points and 13 rebounds.

Harden was scoreless and didn’t get any assists in the first 12 minutes and had just five points by halftime. He finished with 12 points, four rebounds and two assists. Powell shook off his slow start, having scored five points in the opening half.

But all the blame wasn’t on just the two stars. The Clippers made only two baskets in the first quarter, while the Spurs made five 3-pointers.

Frustrated with what he saw on the court, Lue replaced four starters with Amir Coffey, Kevin Porter Jr., Nico Batum and Kris Dunn. Ivica Zubac stayed in the game. That lineup managed to slow the Spurs and pulled within 12 with 7:34 left in the half.

Lue put Harden and Powell back in and the two responded with key baskets to pull the Clippers closer, 56-48.

The Spurs were without Greg Popovich, the Spurs’ longtime coach, on the bench. Popovich suffered an undisclosed health issue Saturday and is not expected back soon. Mitch Johnson will be the interim head coach for an indefinite period.