San Antonio vs. LA, Final Score: Spurs blow lead, Clippers win 113-104

The Spurs were two different teams tonight, the ultra-efficient machine that took care of the Clippers early as they took a 40-14 lead in the first quarter, and the restless, disorganized mess that allowed the Clippers to win in the In the second half, Amir Coffey got hot, James Harden and Norman Powell picked up their game and hit good shots as the Clippers cruised to an improbable 113-104 victory, their first win in their new $2 billion arena, the Intuit Dome.

Victor Wembanyama had an impressive game statistically, but he is also partly responsible for the defeat, as some poor decisions led to ball losses and defensive errors. It may have been the most disappointing 9-block game in NBA history, but it's only a matter of time before he fixes the mistakes and becomes what we all know he can be.

Jeremy Sochan left just before half-time and his absence from the lineup was a major factor in the poor defense in the second half.

Observations

• What did I do when I signed up for this game? A notice at 9:30 a.m. a few days after the fall time change? I'll be lucky if I'm awake enough to submit this story on time.
• Shams Charania reported that coach Popovich will be out indefinitely due to an undisclosed health issue. Mitch Johnson will be the interim coach and there are no concerns about the team's performance as he is quite capable, but most fans are worried about Popovich and are hoping for a speedy recovery and return to action.
• Michelle Beadle was there to help with the telecast and really brought a brighter and more engaging presence that we've been missing for some time.
• White jerseys on the go? Dark jerseys at home? What a world, what a world.
• The Spurs got off to a quick 17:7 start as the home team offered little resistance to the white-clad visitors. They kept their foot on the gas for the rest of the quarter, leading 40-14 after the first 12 minutes. Chris Paul had some of his best minutes early as a Spur against his old team and the Clippers appeared dead. The funny thing about NBA games is that they are never over after 12 minutes, even though it seems that way.
• The Clippers got a little life with an 8-0 run early in the second quarter as the Spurs' defensive intensity waned, leading to a timeout by Mitch Johnson. Wemby broke his streak with a spectacular dunk that led to another disappointing 10-point LA run, cutting the deficit to 10. As fluid as the Spurs' offense was in the first game, it turned to mud in the second. The Clippers' resurgence led to them squandering much of the lead just before halftime and trailing 56-48 on a three-pointer from Harden.
• Sochan went to the locker room late in the second quarter after hitting a screen with his thumb. Hopefully it's nothing serious in the long run, but he hasn't returned to the game. With Jeremy sidelined, Castle played a much larger role in the second half, being aggressive on offense while helping the Spurs build the lead back to double figures.
• Coffey's three-pointers at the end of the third period reduced the Silver and Black's lead to four points, and their 26-point first quarter lead was almost completely erased with twelve minutes to play.
• Mamu came into the game at the start of the quarter and immediately hit a three-pointer.
• Victor is simultaneously the most impressive and frustrating player I've ever seen. He can do things no one else can do, but his decision making is still a coincidence. He can make an incredible play and then follow it up with a terrible pass or poor shot selection.
• The Clippers finally regained the lead midway through the fourth period when they got hot from beyond the arc and Powell's three-pointer gave them a 93-81 lead.
• The Spurs went on a bit of a run late in the game, but the Clips held on, sealing the game with a Coffey layup and free throws to win 113-104.

The entire league is off tomorrow for Election Day, but the Spurs return with another road game against the Rockets on Wednesday night, followed by a home game against the Trail Blazers on Thursday.