Game ID: 22300099
San Antonio Spurs @ LA Clippers
Sunday, October 29, 2023 at 9:00 PM ET
Crypto.com Arena, Los Angeles, CA
Q1 Q2 Q3 Q4 Final
LAC 23 33 37 30 123SAS 17 20 23 23 83
LAC vs SAS ScoutingLAC vs SAS Scouting
Welcome to the scouting desk. The coffee is cold, the film is play-by-play, and somebody has to explain what happened.
Every game has a hinge — a stretch where it was decided, usually while everyone was watching something else. Start where the evidence lives: the Lineups' face-offs say which five actually won their minutes; the Possessions ledger says who ran ahead of the night's own pace; the Shot Chart says where the points really came from, which is rarely where the highlights were. When all three agree, that is the story. When they don't — that is why this desk has a chair.
LAC availability going into 10/25 · season opener
full strength
LAC availability going into 10/27 · 1 day's rest
full strength
LAC availability going into 10/29 · 1 day's rest
full strength
LAC availability going into 10/31 · 1 day's restNEW Westbrook 22 to 31 min over the last 3
NEW Hyland 14 to 22 min over the last 3
LAC availability going into 11/01 · back-to-backNEW Westbrook 22 to 31 min over the last 4
NEW Hyland 14 to 24 min over the last 4
LAC availability going into 11/06 · 4 days' restNEW Westbrook 22 to 34 min over the last 5
NEW Hyland 14 to 26 min over the last 5
LAC availability going into 11/08 · 1 day's restNEW Westbrook 22 to 34 min over the last 5
NEW Hyland 14 to 26 min over the last 5
SAS availability going into 10/25 · season opener
full strength
SAS availability going into 10/27 · 1 day's rest
full strength
SAS availability going into 10/29 · 1 day's restOUT Champagnie missed 2 since 10/25, returns tonight: 7 min (35% of 20)
OUT Wesley missed 2 since 10/25, returns tonight: 7 min (48% of 14)
OUT Graham missed 2 since 10/25, out tonight
OUT Barlow missed 2 since 10/25, returns tonight: 5 min (38% of 13)
SAS availability going into 10/31 · 1 day's restOUT Graham missed 3 since 10/25, out tonight
BACK Champagnie back 10/29 after 2, 7 min since (35% of 20)
BACK Wesley back 10/29 after 2, 7 min since (48% of 14)
BACK Barlow back 10/29 after 2, 5 min since (38% of 13)
NEW Collins 22 to 32 min over the last 3
SAS availability going into 11/02 · 1 day's restOUT Graham missed 4 since 10/25, out tonight
BACK Champagnie back 10/29 after 2, 5 min since (25% of 20)
BACK Wesley back 10/29 after 2, 7 min since (48% of 14)
BACK Barlow back 10/29 after 2, 5 min since (38% of 13)
NEW Collins 22 to 31 min over the last 4
SAS availability going into 11/05 · 2 days' restOUT Wesley missed 2 since 10/31, out tonight
OUT Graham missed 5 since 10/25, out tonight
OUT Barlow missed 2 since 10/31, out tonight
BACK Champagnie back 10/29 after 2, 5 min since (25% of 20)
NEW Collins 22 to 32 min over the last 5
SAS availability going into 11/06 · back-to-backOUT Wesley missed 3 since 10/31, returns tonight: 8 min (53% of 14)
OUT Graham missed 6 since 10/25, returns tonight: 12 min (88% of 14)
OUT Barlow missed 3 since 10/31, returns tonight: 8 min (60% of 13)
BACK Champagnie back 10/29 after 2, 6 min since (28% of 20)
NEW Collins 22 to 33 min over the last 5
10/25 vs POR 123-111 — LAC notes
LAC won 123-111. LAC shot 52% (47 of 90) to POR's 47%, 16 of 34 from three. George led with 27 (11 of 17, 4 of 7 from three); Leonard added 23, Zubac 20. The hinge was Q2, 38-27: a lead of 9 became 20, and the lead reached 30. Westbrook was the night's best plus/minus at +30.
10/27 @ UTA 118-120 — LAC notes
LAC lost 118-120. LAC shot 53% (41 of 77) to UTA's 44%, 14 of 35 from three, and went to the line 28 times to UTA's 22 — 22 points from the stripe to their 20. P. George led with 36 (9 of 17, 3 of 9 from three, 15 of 15 at the line); Leonard added 25, Powell 20. Q4 was theirs, 35-31, the deficit cut from 6 to 2, but the other 3 periods went 89-83 against them. Plumlee's -11 in 12 minutes was the worst on the floor.
10/29 vs SAS 123-83 — LAC notes
LAC won 123-83. LAC shot 52% (47 of 91) to SAS's 38%, 16 of 42 from three. LAC turned it over 16 times to SAS's 25. The glass went 48-37 for them. Leonard led with 21 (6 of 13, 3 of 7 from three, 6 of 7 at the line); George added 19, Westbrook 19. The hinge was Q3, 37-23: a lead of 19 became 33, and the lead reached 41. Westbrook was the night's best plus/minus at +30.
11/06 @ NYK — I Know, the desk before tip-off
Written before tip-off, from the five games each side brought in.
New York comes in 2-3 over its last five, scoring 103 a night and allowing 102, shooting 41 percent and 30 from three, 25 free throws a game; Brunson at 27 and Barrett at 20 a game. It has won the glass by 8 a night. Without Barrett (2 straight). 2 days' rest. The Clippers come in 3-2 over their last five, scoring 121 a night and allowing 109, shooting 51 percent and 42 from three, 23 free throws a game; George at 29 and Leonard at 23 a game. 4 days' rest.
So: The Clippers win, on the road, and the game turns on the arc, the Clippers at 42 percent from three to New York's 30 and the glass, where New York has been plus-8 a night and the Clippers plus-1. Call it the Clippers 111, New York 107, New York keeping it close.
11/08 @ BKN — I Know, the desk before tip-off
Written before tip-off, from the five games each side brought in.
Brooklyn comes in 3-2 over its last five, scoring 118 a night and allowing 117, shooting 48 percent and 37 from three, 19 free throws a game; Thomas at 27 and Bridges at 23 a game. Without Claxton (6 straight), Cam. Johnson (6 straight), Clowney (7 straight). One day's rest. The Clippers come in 2-3 over their last five, scoring 116 a night and allowing 109, shooting 50 percent and 40 from three, 23 free throws a game; George at 25 and Leonard at 22 a game. One day's rest.
So: The Clippers win, on the road, and the game turns on the turnovers, the Clippers giving it away 16 times a game to Brooklyn's 10 and the defense, the Clippers allowing 109 a night to Brooklyn's 117. Call it the Clippers 116, Brooklyn 115, Brooklyn keeping it close.
10/25 vs DAL 119-126 — SAS notes
SAS lost 119-126. SAS shot 52% (46 of 89) to DAL's 47%, 11 of 35 from three. SAS turned it over 19 times to DAL's 12. Vassell led with 23 (9 of 17, 1 of 6 from three); Johnson added 17, Jones 16. Q1 was theirs, 43-36, but the other 3 periods went 90-76 against them. They led by as many as 12.
10/27 vs HOU 126-122 — SAS notes
SAS won 126-122 in 1 overtime. SAS shot 49% (46 of 94) to HOU's 52%, 13 of 42 from three, and went to the line 28 times to HOU's 20 — 21 points from the stripe to their 10. Vassell led with 25 (7 of 13, 3 of 7 from three, 8 of 11 at the line); Wembanyama added 21, Johnson 20. The hinge was Q4, 35-28: SAS came in trailing by 7 and left it level. Jones was the night's best plus/minus at +14.
10/29 @ LAC 83-123 — SAS notes
SAS lost 83-123. SAS shot 38% (30 of 80) to LAC's 52%, 11 of 33 from three. SAS turned it over 25 times to LAC's 16, and LAC turned those into 15 steals. The glass went 37-48 against them. Vassell led with 14 (6 of 10, 1 of 3 from three); Osman added 12, Wembanyama 11. Q1 was theirs, 17-23, but the other 3 periods went 100-66 against them. Collins's -36 in 25 minutes was the worst on the floor.
11/05 vs TOR — I Know, the desk before tip-off
Written before tip-off, from the five games each side brought in.
San Antonio comes in 3-2 over its last five, scoring 115 a night and allowing 121, shooting 48 percent and 36 from three, 20 free throws a game; Wembanyama at 21 and Vassell at 19 a game. 2 days' rest. Toronto comes in 1-4 over its last five, scoring 106 a night and allowing 108, shooting 47 percent and 34 from three, 18 free throws a game; Barnes at 22 and Siakam at 17 a game. Without Freeman-Liberty (4 straight), Achiuwa (3 straight). 2 days' rest.
So: San Antonio wins, and the game turns on the defense, Toronto allowing 108 a night to San Antonio's 121 and the glass, where Toronto has been plus-2 a night and San Antonio minus-3. Call it San Antonio 113, Toronto 112, Toronto keeping it close.
11/06 @ IND — I Know, the desk before tip-off
Written before tip-off, from the five games each side brought in.
Indiana comes in 2-3 over its last five, scoring 116 a night and allowing 124, shooting 47 percent and 35 from three, 19 free throws a game; Haliburton at 25 and Turner at 18 a game. It has lost the glass by 5 a night. Without Sheppard (2 straight). One day's rest. San Antonio comes in 3-2 over its last five, scoring 114 a night and allowing 121, shooting 47 percent and 36 from three, 18 free throws a game; Wembanyama at 22 and Vassell at 18 a game. Second night of a back-to-back.
So: Indiana wins, and the game turns on the turnovers, San Antonio giving it away 16 times a game to Indiana's 13. Call it Indiana 122, San Antonio 117.
Who is who
the initials in the Players column
SASBW B. Wesley
CB C. Bassey
CO C. Osman
DM D. McDermott
DV D. Vassell
JC J. Champagnie
JS J. Sochan
KJ K. Johnson
MB M. Branham
SM S. Mamukelashvili
TJ T. Jones
VW V. Wembanyama
ZC Z. Collins
LACAC A. Coffey
BH B. Hyland
DI Diabate
IZ I. Zubac
KB K. Brown
KL K. Leonard
KM K. Martin
MD M. Diabaté
MP M. Plumlee
NB N. Batum
NP N. Powell
PG P. George
RC R. Covington
RW R. Westbrook
SAS/LAC the team itself, not a player
-- the feed named nobody
What
What happened
the codes in the Events column
M2 / M3 made 2 / made 3
X2 / X3 missed 2 / missed 3
FT / X1 free throw made / missed
AST assist
OR / DR offensive / defensive rebound
STL steal
BLK block
TO turnover
FL foul
OF offensive foul — ends the possession
VIOL violation
JUMP jump ball
TM timeout
IR instant replay
HE heave at the buzzer, filed to the team
END the clock ran out, ball in hand
Where
Where a shot came from
the middle field of M3.LW.25
RM at the rim inside 4 ft
RC right corner
RW right wing
SO straight on
LW left wing
LC left corner
M3.LW.25 made 3, left wing, 25 ft
X2.RM.01 missed 2, at the rim, 1 ft
When
When it happened
the Offset column
one number per event, in the Events order:
whole seconds from the start of the
possession to that event
Events FL X3.RC.23 OR M2.RM.01
Offset 0 18 22 24
the foul opens the possession at 0s;
the putback ends it at 24s, which is
the possession's own Dur
Road rookie: Leonard and George school Wembanyama in 1st away game, Clippers rout Spurs 123-83
LOS ANGELES -- — It didn't take long for Victor Wembanyama to find out the road can be a tough place in the NBA.
Kawhi Leonard scored 21 points, Paul George added 19 and the Los Angeles Clippers’ stars schooled the Spurs rookie in his first game away from home, a 123-83 rout of San Antonio on Sunday night.
Wembanyama was held to 11 points, five rebounds, two assists and one block. He committed five of the Spurs’ season-worst 25 turnovers.
“It's not about how bad the struggles are going to be, but how persistent we're going to be,” the 19-year-old said, sounding wise beyond his years.
It was a letdown for Wembanyama after he scored 15 points in a loss to Dallas in his NBA debut last week. He followed up with 21 points in an overtime victory against Houston.
“I wouldn't see any reason to be frustrated three games into the season, but it is a learning experience,” he said.
Russell Westbrook had 19 points and Ivica Zubac scored 16 for the Clippers, who had seven players in double figures. Westbrook and Zubac had a team-high eight rebounds apiece.
Devin Vassell led the Spurs with 14 points and Cedi Osman added 12 off the bench.
“It sucks losing by 40 points,” Vassell said. “I feel like we played scared. We can't play on our heels.”
Wembanyama was the only Spurs starter on the court to start the fourth, when they trailed 93-60. But he checked out for good after playing 26 minutes and clapped for his teammates from the bench.
“He's going to be good,” Leonard said. “I felt like he got a more aggressive mentality as he started the season off.”
Westbrook — the French teenager's favorite player growing up — delivered a knee to Wembanyama's thigh in the third. The 19-year-old made 1 of 2 free throws, capping a stretch in which he scored five of the Spurs' seven points to leave them trailing 77-48.
“They're my idols, but they're still my opponent,” Wembanyama said of Leonard, Paul and Westbrook.
After drawing a crowd to his warmup an hour before tipoff, Wembanyama got off to a mixed start. The 7-foot-3 star had a turnover on the Spurs' first possession, blocked Zubac and then missed two free throws.
“Everybody's going to be physical with him and try to knock him off-balance,” Spurs coach Gregg Popovich said. “He's got to get used to that.”
Wembanyama tapped in an alley-oop pass from Zach Collins for his only two points of the first quarter. The Spurs were down by 12 before scoring their first points in the second on Wembanyama's hook.
“I think he got a deflection on Russ, not even guarding Russ but just back tip,” George said. “There are just certain plays that stand out where you’re like, ‘Wow.’ There’s only two guys maybe in the league that can do that.”
The Clippers led by 21 in the second quarter before Westbrook hit a 3-pointer from the left corner to send them into halftime ahead 56-37. He slapped hands with fans in the front row.
The Clippers raced to a 20-7 start, with George scoring nine points. His five steals were the most in a quarter in his career.
UP NEXT
Spurs: Visit Phoenix on Tuesday in the first of two in a row against the Suns.
Clippers: Host Orlando on Tuesday to end a stretch in which they play three of their first four games at home.