Game ID: 22300223
LA Clippers @ San Antonio Spurs
Monday, November 20, 2023 at 8:00 PM ET
Frost Bank Center, San Antonio, TX
Q1 Q2 Q3 Q4 Final
SAS 27 28 22 22 99LAC 33 33 25 33 124
LAC @ SAS ScoutingLAC @ 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.
SAS availability going into 11/12 · 1 day's restOUT Graham missed 2 since 11/08, out tonight
OUT Cissoko missed 4 since 11/05, out tonight
BACK Vassell back 11/08 after 2, 23 min since (70% of 33)
BACK Wesley back 11/06 after 3, 5 min since (37% of 14)
BACK Barlow back 11/06 after 3, 5 min since (42% of 13)
NEW Collins 22 to 28 min over the last 5
SAS availability going into 11/14 · 1 day's restOUT Champagnie missed 2 since 11/10, returns tonight: 31 min (155% of 20)
OUT Wesley missed 2 since 11/10, out tonight
OUT Graham missed 3 since 11/08, returns tonight: 17 min (126% of 14)
OUT Barlow missed 2 since 11/10, returns tonight: 5 min (41% of 13)
OUT Cissoko missed 5 since 11/05, out tonight
BACK Vassell back 11/08 after 2, 27 min since (80% of 33)
NEW Collins 22 to 28 min over the last 5
SAS availability going into 11/17 · 2 days' restOUT Jones missed 2 since 11/12, out tonight
OUT Wesley missed 3 since 11/10, returns tonight: 4 min (26% of 14)
OUT Cissoko missed 6 since 11/05, out tonight
BACK Vassell back 11/08 after 2, 26 min since (79% of 33)
BACK Champagnie back 11/14 after 2, 31 min since (155% of 20)
BACK Graham back 11/06 after 6, 15 min since (107% of 14)
BACK Barlow back 11/06 after 3, 5 min since (42% of 13)
SAS availability going into 11/18 · back-to-backOUT Jones missed 3 since 11/12, returns tonight: 21 min (77% of 28)
OUT Cissoko missed 7 since 11/05, out tonight
BACK Vassell back 11/08 after 2, 26 min since (79% of 33)
BACK Champagnie back 11/14 after 2, 28 min since (141% of 20)
BACK Wesley back 11/17 after 3, 4 min since (26% of 14)
BACK Graham back 11/14 after 3, 17 min since (126% of 14)
BACK Barlow back 11/14 after 2, 5 min since (41% of 13)
NEW Johnson 30 to 35 min over the last 4
NEW Collins 22 to 29 min over the last 5
SAS availability going into 11/20 · 1 day's restOUT Vassell missed 2 since 11/17, out tonight
OUT Graham missed 2 since 11/17, out tonight
OUT Cissoko missed 8 since 11/05, returns tonight: 4 min (36% of 12)
BACK Jones back 11/18 after 3, 21 min since (77% of 28)
BACK Champagnie back 11/14 after 2, 25 min since (128% of 20)
BACK Wesley back 11/17 after 3, 4 min since (26% of 14)
BACK Barlow back 11/14 after 2, 4 min since (31% of 13)
NEW Johnson 30 to 35 min over the last 4
NEW Collins 22 to 30 min over the last 5
SAS availability going into 11/22 · 1 day's restOUT Vassell missed 3 since 11/17, returns tonight: 27 min (81% of 33)
OUT Wesley missed 2 since 11/18, out tonight
OUT Graham missed 3 since 11/17, out tonight
BACK Jones back 11/18 after 3, 22 min since (80% of 28)
BACK Champagnie back 11/14 after 2, 25 min since (125% of 20)
BACK Barlow back 11/14 after 2, 4 min since (31% of 13)
BACK Cissoko back 11/20 after 8, 4 min since (36% of 12)
NEW Collins 22 to 30 min over the last 5
SAS availability going into 11/24 · 1 day's restOUT Wesley missed 3 since 11/18, out tonight
OUT Graham missed 4 since 11/17, out tonight
BACK Vassell back 11/22 after 3, 27 min since (81% of 33)
BACK Jones back 11/18 after 3, 21 min since (77% of 28)
BACK Champagnie back 11/14 after 2, 25 min since (125% of 20)
BACK Barlow back 11/14 after 2, 6 min since (44% of 13)
BACK Cissoko back 11/20 after 8, 4 min since (36% of 12)
NEW Collins 22 to 29 min over the last 5
SAS availability going into 11/26 · 1 day's restOUT Champagnie missed 2 since 11/22, returns tonight: 17 min (85% of 20)
OUT Wesley missed 4 since 11/18, out tonight
OUT Graham missed 5 since 11/17, returns tonight: 6 min (48% of 14)
OUT Cissoko missed 2 since 11/22, out tonight
BACK Vassell back 11/22 after 3, 27 min since (82% of 33)
BACK Jones back 11/18 after 3, 20 min since (73% of 28)
NEW Collins 22 to 29 min over the last 5
SAS availability going into 11/30 · 3 days' restOUT Wesley missed 5 since 11/18, out tonight
OUT Barlow missed 2 since 11/24, out tonight
OUT Cissoko missed 3 since 11/22, out tonight
BACK Vassell back 11/22 after 3, 27 min since (81% of 33)
BACK Jones back 11/18 after 3, 21 min since (74% of 28)
BACK Champagnie back 11/26 after 2, 17 min since (85% of 20)
BACK Graham back 11/26 after 5, 6 min since (48% of 14)
LAC availability going into 11/10 · 1 day's restNEW Westbrook 22 to 33 min over the last 5
NEW Hyland 14 to 23 min over the last 5
LAC availability going into 11/12 · 1 day's restOUT Plumlee missed 2 since 11/08, out tonight
NEW Westbrook 22 to 32 min over the last 5
NEW Hyland 14 to 25 min over the last 5
LAC availability going into 11/14 · 1 day's restOUT Plumlee missed 3 since 11/08, out tonight
NEW Westbrook 22 to 31 min over the last 5
NEW Hyland 14 to 23 min over the last 4
LAC availability going into 11/17 · 2 days' restOUT Coffey missed 2 since 11/12, out tonight
OUT Plumlee missed 4 since 11/08, out tonight
OUT Hyland missed 2 since 11/12, out tonight
NEW Westbrook 22 to 28 min over the last 5
LAC availability going into 11/20 · 2 days' restOUT Coffey missed 3 since 11/12, returns tonight: 4 min (20% of 21)
OUT Plumlee missed 5 since 11/08, out tonight
OUT Hyland missed 3 since 11/12, returns tonight: 4 min (30% of 14)
LAC availability going into 11/22 · 1 day's restOUT Plumlee missed 6 since 11/08, out tonight
BACK Coffey back 11/20 after 3, 4 min since (20% of 21)
BACK Hyland back 11/20 after 3, 4 min since (30% of 14)
LAC availability going into 11/24 · 1 day's restOUT Plumlee missed 7 since 11/08, out tonight
BACK Coffey back 11/20 after 3, 7 min since (35% of 21)
BACK Hyland back 11/20 after 3, 4 min since (30% of 14)
LAC availability going into 11/25 · back-to-backOUT Plumlee missed 8 since 11/08, out tonight
OUT Hyland missed 2 since 11/22, returns tonight: 4 min (27% of 14)
BACK Coffey back 11/20 after 3, 7 min since (35% of 21)
LAC availability going into 11/27 · 1 day's restOUT Plumlee missed 9 since 11/08, out tonight
BACK Coffey back 11/20 after 3, 6 min since (31% of 21)
BACK Hyland back 11/20 after 3, 4 min since (29% of 14)
I Know — the desk, before tip-off
Written before tip-off, from the five games each side brought in.
San Antonio comes in 0-5 over its last five, scoring 108 a night and allowing 121, shooting 44 percent and 38 from three, 18 free throws a game; Wembanyama at 20 and Vassell at 18 a game. That is 5 straight losses. Without Vassell (2 straight). One day's rest. The Clippers come in 1-4 over their last five, scoring 107 a night and allowing 112, shooting 44 percent and 34 from three, 25 free throws a game; George at 23 and Leonard at 20 a game. Without Coffey (3 straight). 2 days' rest.
So: The Clippers win, on the road, and the game turns on the defense, the Clippers allowing 112 a night to San Antonio's 121 and the line, where the Clippers take 25 free throws a game to San Antonio's 18. Call it the Clippers 115, San Antonio 112, San Antonio keeping it close.
11/12 vs MIA 113-118 — SAS notes
SAS lost 113-118. SAS shot 46% (42 of 91) to MIA's 44%, 19 of 44 from three, and got to the line just 12 times against 21 fouls committed. SAS turned it over 17 times to MIA's 4. Johnson led with 20 (8 of 18, 3 of 10 from three); Wembanyama added 18, Collins 18. Q1 was theirs, 29-15, but the other 3 periods went 103-84 against them. They led by as many as 19.
11/14 @ OKC 87-123 — SAS notes
SAS lost 87-123. SAS shot 39% (36 of 93) to OKC's 52%, 9 of 30 from three, and got to the line 9 times to OKC's 20. SAS turned it over 24 times to OKC's 15, and OKC turned those into 19 steals. Collins led with 13 (6 of 11, 1 of 4 from three); Champagnie added 13, Vassell 12. Q1 was theirs, 25-28, but the other 3 periods went 95-62 against them. Collins's -33 in 31 minutes was the worst on the floor.
11/17 vs SAC 120-129 — SAS notes
SAS lost 120-129. SAS shot 47% (43 of 92) to SAC's 54%, 15 of 36 from three. Collins led with 28 (10 of 14, 3 of 5 from three, 5 of 6 at the line); Wembanyama added 27, Johnson 21. Q1 was theirs, 31-29, but the other 3 periods went 100-89 against them. They led by as many as 18. Wembanyama's -31 in 30 minutes was the worst on the floor.
11/18 vs MEM 108-120 — SAS notes
SAS lost 108-120. SAS shot 43% (36 of 83) to MEM's 47%, 15 of 40 from three, and got to the line 26 times to MEM's 36. Johnson led with 22 (8 of 14, 4 of 7 from three); Wembanyama added 19, Sochan 16. Q1 was theirs, 35-26, but the other 3 periods went 94-73 against them. They led by as many as 19. Osman's -21 in 24 minutes was the worst on the floor.
11/20 vs LAC 99-124 — SAS notes
SAS lost 99-124. SAS shot 43% (39 of 90) to LAC's 47%, 10 of 38 from three, and got to the line 14 times to LAC's 25. SAS turned it over 16 times to LAC's 7, and LAC turned those into 15 steals. Johnson led with 22 (9 of 16, 2 of 8 from three); Osman added 17, Collins 12. Q3 was theirs, 22-25, but the other 3 periods went 99-77 against them. Collins's -25 in 28 minutes was the worst on the floor.
11/22 vs LAC — I Know, the desk before tip-off
Written before tip-off, from the five games each side brought in.
San Antonio comes in 0-5 over its last five, scoring 105 a night and allowing 123, shooting 44 percent and 36 from three, 17 free throws a game; Johnson at 21 and Collins at 17 a game. That is 5 straight losses. Without Vassell (3 straight). One day's rest. The Clippers come in 2-3 over their last five, scoring 113 a night and allowing 112, shooting 45 percent and 36 from three, 28 free throws a game; George at 24 and Leonard at 20 a game. One day's rest.
So: The Clippers win, on the road, and the game turns on the line, where the Clippers take 28 free throws a game to San Antonio's 17 and the turnovers, San Antonio giving it away 17 times a game to the Clippers' 11. Call it the Clippers 117, San Antonio 111.
11/24 @ GSW — I Know, the desk before tip-off
Written before tip-off, from the five games each side brought in.
Golden State comes in 1-4 over its last five, scoring 114 a night and allowing 120, shooting 44 percent and 38 from three, 24 free throws a game; Curry at 24 and Wiggins at 15 a game. Without Green (4 straight), Payton II (3 straight). One day's rest. San Antonio comes in 0-5 over its last five, scoring 103 a night and allowing 121, shooting 42 percent and 33 from three, 19 free throws a game; Johnson at 20 and Collins at 17 a game. That is 5 straight losses. One day's rest.
So: Golden State wins, and the game turns on the arc, Golden State at 38 percent from three to San Antonio's 33. Call it Golden State 119, San Antonio 111.
11/26 @ DEN — I Know, the desk before tip-off
Written before tip-off, from the five games each side brought in.
Denver comes in 1-4 over its last five, scoring 106 a night and allowing 114, shooting 45 percent and 35 from three, 20 free throws a game; Jokić at 24 and Porter Jr. at 18 a game. Without Murray (9 straight). One day's rest. San Antonio comes in 0-5 over its last five, scoring 108 a night and allowing 120, shooting 43 percent and 32 from three, 20 free throws a game; Johnson at 20 and Wembanyama at 20 a game. That is 5 straight losses. Without Champagnie (2 straight). One day's rest.
So: Denver wins, and the game turns on the defense, Denver allowing 114 a night to San Antonio's 120 and the turnovers, San Antonio giving it away 16 times a game to Denver's 13. Call it Denver 116, San Antonio 109.
11/30 vs ATL — I Know, the desk before tip-off
Written before tip-off, from the five games each side brought in.
San Antonio comes in 0-5 over its last five, scoring 108 a night and allowing 121, shooting 43 percent and 31 from three, 20 free throws a game; Vassell at 20 and Wembanyama at 19 a game. That is 5 straight losses. 3 days' rest. Atlanta comes in 2-3 over its last five, scoring 129 a night and allowing 130, shooting 46 percent and 39 from three, 24 free throws a game; Young at 31 and Bogdanović at 19 a game. Without Johnson (2 straight). One day's rest.
So: Atlanta wins, on the road, and the game turns on the arc, Atlanta at 39 percent from three to San Antonio's 31 and the defense, San Antonio allowing 121 a night to Atlanta's 130. Call it Atlanta 122, San Antonio 119, San Antonio keeping it close.
11/10 @ DAL 126-144 — LAC notes
LAC lost 126-144. LAC shot 49% (43 of 88) to DAL's 52%, 8 of 27 from three, and went to the line 36 times to DAL's 26 — 32 points from the stripe to their 23. LAC turned it over 14 times to DAL's 8. Leonard led with 26 (8 of 15, 2 of 4 from three, 8 of 8 at the line); Hyland added 17, Harden 14. Q4 was theirs, 37-29, the deficit cut from 26 to 18, but the other 3 periods went 115-89 against them. They led by as many as 12. N. Powell's -35 in 11 minutes was the worst on the floor.
11/12 vs MEM 101-105 — LAC notes
LAC lost 101-105. LAC shot 44% (37 of 85) to MEM's 42%, 12 of 34 from three. George led with 26 (8 of 16, 3 of 7 from three, 7 of 9 at the line); Powell added 20, Leonard 14. Q4 was theirs, 33-26, the deficit cut from 11 to 4, but the other 3 periods went 79-68 against them. Harden's -28 in 29 minutes was the worst on the floor.
11/14 @ DEN 108-111 — LAC notes
LAC lost 108-111. LAC took 13 more shots (86 to 73), fed by 14 offensive rebounds, but shot 43% to DEN's 53%, 13 of 29 from three, and got to the line 24 times to DEN's 32. George led with 35 (13 of 26, 4 of 11 from three); Harden added 21, Leonard 15. Q3 was theirs, 32-24, the deficit cut from 8 to 0, but the other 3 periods went 87-76 against them. Tucker's -7 in 21 minutes was the worst on the floor.
11/17 vs HOU 106-100 — LAC notes
LAC won 106-100. LAC shot 43% (36 of 83) to HOU's 43%, 13 of 34 from three, and went to the line 30 times to HOU's 20 — 21 points from the stripe to their 14. Leonard led with 26 (8 of 16, 3 of 6 from three, 7 of 8 at the line); Harden added 24, George 23. The hinge was Q1, 29-23: from level to 6 ahead. LAC trailed 48-50 at the half and won the second half 58-50. Harden was the night's best plus/minus at +21.
11/20 @ SAS 124-99 — LAC notes
LAC won 124-99. LAC shot 47% (45 of 95) to SAS's 43%, 12 of 36 from three, and went to the line 25 times to SAS's 14 — 22 points from the stripe to their 11. LAC turned it over 7 times to SAS's 16. George led with 28 (11 of 16, 4 of 8 from three); Leonard added 21, Powell 19. The hinge was Q4, 33-22: a lead of 14 became 25, and the lead reached 28. George was the night's best plus/minus at +23.
11/22 @ SAS — I Know, the desk before tip-off
Written before tip-off, from the five games each side brought in.
San Antonio comes in 0-5 over its last five, scoring 105 a night and allowing 123, shooting 44 percent and 36 from three, 17 free throws a game; Johnson at 21 and Collins at 17 a game. That is 5 straight losses. Without Vassell (3 straight). One day's rest. The Clippers come in 2-3 over their last five, scoring 113 a night and allowing 112, shooting 45 percent and 36 from three, 28 free throws a game; George at 24 and Leonard at 20 a game. One day's rest.
So: The Clippers win, on the road, and the game turns on the line, where the Clippers take 28 free throws a game to San Antonio's 17 and the turnovers, San Antonio giving it away 17 times a game to the Clippers' 11. Call it the Clippers 117, San Antonio 111.
11/24 vs NOP — I Know, the desk before tip-off
Written before tip-off, from the five games each side brought in.
The Clippers come in 3-2 over their last five, scoring 110 a night and allowing 103, shooting 45 percent and 37 from three, 26 free throws a game; George at 27 and Leonard at 20 a game. That is 3 straight wins. One day's rest. New Orleans comes in 4-1 over its last five, scoring 122 a night and allowing 109, shooting 51 percent and 39 from three, 26 free throws a game; Ingram at 26 and Williamson at 24 a game. It has won the glass by 4 a night. Without McCollum (9 straight). One day's rest.
So: The Clippers win, in a game with no one edge to lean on. Call it the Clippers 113, New Orleans 111, New Orleans keeping it close.
11/25 vs DAL — I Know, the desk before tip-off
Written before tip-off, from the five games each side brought in.
The Clippers come in 3-2 over their last five, scoring 111 a night and allowing 106, shooting 45 percent and 35 from three, 25 free throws a game; George at 29 and Leonard at 22 a game. Second night of a back-to-back. Dallas comes in 2-3 over its last five, scoring 116 a night and allowing 122, shooting 46 percent and 35 from three, 21 free throws a game; Irving at 27 and Dončić at 26 a game. Without Kleber (7 straight). 2 days' rest.
So: The Clippers win, and the game turns on the defense, the Clippers allowing 106 a night to Dallas's 122. Call it the Clippers 117, Dallas 112.
11/27 vs DEN — I Know, the desk before tip-off
Written before tip-off, from the five games each side brought in.
The Clippers come in 4-1 over their last five, scoring 110 a night and allowing 101, shooting 45 percent and 32 from three, 26 free throws a game; George at 27 and Leonard at 20 a game. One day's rest. Denver comes in 2-3 over its last five, scoring 111 a night and allowing 115, shooting 46 percent and 39 from three, 22 free throws a game; Jokić at 27 and Porter Jr. at 20 a game. Without Murray (10 straight). Second night of a back-to-back.
So: The Clippers win, and the game turns on the defense, the Clippers allowing 101 a night to Denver's 115 and the arc, Denver at 39 percent from three to the Clippers' 32. Call it the Clippers 114, Denver 106.
Who is who
the initials in the Players column
SASCB C. Bassey
CO C. Osman
DM D. McDermott
JC J. Champagnie
JS J. Sochan
KJ K. Johnson
MB M. Branham
SC S. Cissoko
TJ T. Jones
VW V. Wembanyama
ZC Z. Collins
LACAC A. Coffey
BH B. Hyland
DT D. Theis
IZ I. Zubac
JH J. Harden
KL K. Leonard
MD M. Diabaté
NP N. Powell
PG P. George
PT P. Tucker
RW R. Westbrook
TM T. Mann
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
George, Leonard lead Clippers past Spurs 124-99, extending San Antonio's skid to 9 straight
SAN ANTONIO -- — Paul George scored 28 points, Kawhi Leonard added 21 and the Los Angeles Clippers rolled past Victor Wembanyama and San Antonio 124-99 on Monday night, extending the Spurs’ losing streak to nine games.
James Harden added 13 points and 10 assists as Los Angeles won its sixth straight over San Antonio.
The Clippers won their second straight game with Harden after dropping their first five games with the All-Star guard in the lineup following a trade from Philadelphia.
“The more reps, the more you get comfortable,” Harden said. “The more you try to understand where guys’ spots are on the floor and where can I attack and get mine. As games go by, you see us get more comfortable.”
Wembanyama was held to nine points and three rebounds. Keldon Johnson had 22 points and 10 rebounds to lead San Antonio, and Cedi Osman scored 17 points.
“That’s an amazing team that we played tonight,” Johnson said. “Praying that everybody on their roster stays healthy, they will be contending, in a position to make some noise in the West.”
The Spurs’ losing streak matches the fifth longest in franchise history.
San Antonio set the franchise record last season by dropping 23 straight and finished with the third-worst record in franchise history at 22-60.
The futility helped the Spurs earn the No. 1 pick, which they used to select the new cornerstone of the franchise in the 7-foot-3 Wembanyama.
Leonard was once the face of the Spurs, the bridge between the Big Three era of Tim Duncan, Tony Parker and Manu Ginobili and the future. That changed when Leonard demanded and was granted a trade, getting shipped to Toronto in 2018.
Spurs fans have not forgotten and booed Leonard every time he touched the ball.
“It’s a completive fanbase,” Leonard said. “They want to win every game. Once I come into the game, there’s going to be boos, but walking around the city or going to restaurants, they show love.”
Leonard and the Clippers gave the fans plenty to jeer about Monday.
The Clippers finished with 30 assists and only seven turnovers in handing the Spurs their sixth double-digit loss this season.
The Clippers also held Wembanyama to 4-for-12 shooting, including missing all four of his 3-point attempts.
San Antonio suffered its second-worst loss of the season, 123-83, to the Clippers on Oct. 29. The Clippers were on track for a similar path in the second half after a competitive first two quarters.
“I am totally pleased with the game,” Spurs coach Gregg Popovich said. “Nobody likes to lose, but I thought their competitiveness and their execution were good. Against a very good, very talented, very well-coached team. So, I will sleep well. We’ll look at the film. We’ll continue tomorrow. But I like a lot of things that I saw, individually and team (wise).”
A dunk by Leonard and a layup off a no-look feed from Harden extended the Clippers’ lead to 86-66 with 4:37 remaining in the third quarter. The Clippers extended that lead to 28 points before emptying their bench midway through the fourth.
San Antonio has trailed by 15 points or more eight games this season and by 20 in six contests. The Spurs have rallied to win just once.
George had to exit after being poked in the eye by Wembanyama on the Clippers’ first possession. He returned midway through the first and finished 11 for 16 from the field and 4 for 8 on 3-pointers.
Spurs starting guard Devin Vassell missed the game with a strained groin.
UP NEXT
The teams close a two-game set at San Antonio on Wednesday.