3rd Time's the Charm: Why San Antonio Spurs' Final Matchup vs. LA Clippers Is Crucial and Telling

The San Antonio Spurs have seen the LA Clippers twice this season already, and neither time ended favorably. With a key situation to take note of and a third crack at the same team, that could change Wednesday night.

SAN ANTONIO — Once again, the stage is set for the San Antonio Spurs.

On their home court in front of a packed house, they'll take the floor and look to send their fans home with a win. Normally, that'd be an easy-enough task, but this season, not so much. Through 14 games, that's only happened once.

That night, Victor Wembanyama put up one of his best stat lines of the season. He took over the fourth quarter and pushed the Spurs past the visiting Rockets in overtime. That night, the stage was set, and they delivered. 

But the other seven times? Those weren't so pretty.

Whether it was a second-half comeback by the Toronto Raptors, a 40-point blowout with scores north of 150 or back-to-back nights of last second demise, San Antonio hasn't found its groove.

Those nights, the same stage was set. The same crowd was present, and the same team took the floor. But the Spurs couldn't get it done. The same was true Monday against the Los Angeles Clippers — San Antonio's second straight blowout loss to a team lead by a former Spur.

That's what makes Wednesday night's contest so important. 

Crucial, in fact.

Nov 20, 2023; San Antonio, Texas, USA; San Antonio Spurs center Victor Wembanyama (1) is introduced before the game against the LA Clippers at the Frost Bank Center / © Daniel Dunn-USA TODAY Sports

Two Teams, One Situation, Two Outcomes

Facing a team three times in a 15-game span isn't normally how schedules work out, but it was for the Spurs and the Clippers. The first time came on the road just one game before San Antonio's double victory in Phoenix, and ended the same way that Monday's contest did — a blowout. 

Wembanyama had his struggles on offense, but beyond that, the Spurs couldn't move the ball effectively, and when the Clippers started to find their shots, it only got worse.

The same was said about the Spurs' second game. 

That time, it was competitive for the first quarter. San Antonio looked like it had a chance against a team that had added James Harden, and that was certainly promising. But once again, LA got hot, the Spurs did not and a one-sided affair was the result. Not surprising given the matchups and roster comparisons on paper.

Between Kawhi Leonard, James Harden, Paul George and Russell Westbrook, the Clippers have the potential to be one of the best teams in the Western Conference.

They first had to figure each other out, however. 

Adding Harden just a few games ago was the biggest change to LA's roster, but with that came some lineup questions: where would Westbrook fit? Does Harden run point in a starting lineup? And what about Paul George? 

All questions that naturally rise with a star-studded roster, but also strangely familiar questions. Both teams are in arguably the same situation with trying to figure out chemistry and balance players' roles. San Antonio just has much less experienced players to consider.

Experienced or not, both squads hit the court Monday night and looked to find some rhythm and comfortability with each other on the floor. The biggest difference-maker in the win was that the Clippers did. San Antonio on the other hand? Not close.

For LA, Harden was a big part of that.

Nov 20, 2023: Clippers coach Tyronn Lue talks with James Harden at Frost Bank Center / © Daniel Dunn-USA TODAY Sports

Despite only scoring 13 points, the guard notched 10 assists and had the second-highest plus-minus among the Clippers' starters. When he was on the court, the team performed better, which he says is just something that came with time as he grew more comfortable with his role.

“For me, it’s not about scoring 30 points," Harden said following his team's 124-99 blowout over the Spurs. "I got 13 points tonight, but it allows me to get creative. ... Every game is different to where [Tyronn Lue either] sees something, or just sit[s] back and lets me do it. I think I’ve earned the respect and proved that I’m able to do that."

Lue certainly agreed.

"There’s a reason why he's led the league in assists the last three years or so," the coach said of Harden's play style. "[He's] very cerebral. He understands the game, understands what's going on in the game and the flow of the game ... his basketball IQ is really good for us.” 

Harden's ability to quickly integrate into his new offense is part of what sets him apart as a superstar. He's proving that not only can he contribute to a team, but he can do so at an elite level, regardless of how the roster is constructed.

That's what the Spurs have been attempting to do all season. With Wembanyama in the mix, the game-plan begins to change. Finding a 7-4 rookie in the paint would seemingly be the go-to play, especially with how often he calls for the ball, but that hasn't been. San Antonio still hasn't quite figured out how to play with Wembanyama.

But again, that's exactly what makes Wednesday's game so important. It'll be another chance for San Antonio to face an elite squad and get more comfortable — something even Harden noted as an important step in his continued integration on the Clippers.

"Obviously, the more reps we take, the more we start to understand what guys are asking for and working on the attack," Harden said. "As games go by, you’ll start to see us get more comfortable.”

The Clippers have figured it out. They integrated their newest superstar — though it should be mentioned with early trouble — very smoothly, and it's paid dividends on the floor. The Spurs haven't found that just yet. 

But what better time to learn than to watch it be done? 

Third Time's the Charm

As the final game clock wound down and the present San Antonio fanbase began to make its way out of Frost Bank Center with a loss for the seventh time of the season, the Spurs had already begun to focus on the next game. 

And as luck would have it, that was set to be against the same exact team, at the same exact place and at the same exact time. Déjà vu, almost, though the Spurs certainly want Wednesday's matchup to end differently. 

That didn't mean they were treating it any differently, however. 

"We want to go out there and win," Johnson said. "Each and every game, regardless of whoever we play. We're prepared to win and beat teams."

That preparation and effort has been a big theme as of late for San Antonio. Almost every single player has come forward to acknowledge the Spurs' early-season woes, and how they're working to fix it. And according to Johnson, the key to that has been "staying together" after games, win or lose. 

“We don’t hang our heads," Johnson said, knowing how important each game is becoming as losses pile up. "No, we stayed together, keep helping each other out, communicate and we just tried to correct the little things. That’s an amazing team we played tonight ... they will be a contender ... in the West. 

"But we as a team, we’re making strides."

Safe to say, Popovich has recognized those things, too. And he likes what he sees.

"I'm totally pleased with the game," Popovich said, correcting a reporter who implied his disapproval of the Spurs' Monday-night performance. "Nobody likes to lose, but I thought their competitiveness and execution were good against a very good, very talented and very well-coached team. I'll sleep well." 

Nov 20, 2023; San Antonio, Texas, USA; San Antonio Spurs head coach Gregg Popovich looks on in the second half against the LA Clippers at the Frost Bank Center / © Daniel Dunn-USA TODAY Sports

Considering the circumstances, a positive response from a coach known to be critical was not expected, but it speaks to the internal mood of the entire team. The players are sticking together, the coach is supporting them and the team is struggling, but it's struggling together. 

Between integrating Wembanyama in a way that can begin to open up the game for San Antonio's role players to the point-guard experiment and even just learning to protect the ball on offense, the Spurs have lots of learning to do. They know that.

And they also know that being the NBA's youngest team doesn't give them any grace.

“I just take it day-by-day," Johnson — a unanimous leader for the Spurs — said of his season mindset. "I don’t let being a young team make any excuses on why we don’t come out on top each and every night. We learn, we compete and we want to win.

"We don’t go out there and say ‘Aw man'," he added. "'At the end of the day, we’re a young team, it’s fine.’ [No.] We lost, and we’re trying to make the right corrections so that we can win games." 

Playing the Clippers for the third time will be a good chance for San Antonio to show that mindset. It can face off against a bona fide Western-Conference contender, learn from it and take note of what it looks like to assemble and make a new lineup work. 

And even if it does end up being just another blowout, showing the effort they've been talking about will be a positive sign of its own. 

They say that the third time's the charm, after all. The Spurs just hope that rings true. 

"It's just about getting that first win again," Jones said. "It's a long season and we can get it rolling at any point, but in the meantime, we just have to stay hungry ... and know that it can flip at any point." 

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