Rowan Kavner 
Digital Content Coordinator
OKC 120 - LAC 108
OKLAHOMA CITY – The Clippers’ fourth quarter magic last Wednesday didn’t follow them to Oklahoma City a week later.
After overcoming a 17-point deficit entering the fourth quarter last week against the Thunder (44-20), the Clippers (41-22) couldn’t repeat the results when trailing by double digits entering the fourth again Wednesday night, watching the deficit increase in a 120-108 loss.
J.J. Redick tried to play his part offensively, at one point hitting three straight fourth quarter 3-pointers for the Clippers, but they couldn’t get the stops to mount a comeback, as the Thunder scored at least 25 points in every quarter and rebounded the Clippers by 23 on the night.
Next Game: 3/11
Tipoff: 7:30pm PDT
KFWB 980AM
Defensive struggles both prevented the comeback and started the deficit in the first place, as the Thunder shot 52.7 percent from the floor and scored 60 points in the paint.
Head coach Doc Rivers said at shootaround before the game he hopes Luc Mbah a Moute (lacerated eyelid) will be ready to return at some point this weekend and that where they’ve missed the defensive-minded starter most is early in games.
That showed Wednesday night, as the Thunder scored 39 points in the first quarter to jump out quickly to a double-digit lead, putting the Clippers in catch-up mode from the tip. But in games between these teams, it doesn’t take long for the score to tighten up quickly.
By late in the second quarter, Chris Paul had tied the game at 62. But as close as the Clippers came, they could never capture a lead. The Thunder scored again before the end of the half. It was much of the same early in the second half, tying the game three more times early in the third quarter but failing to take the lead.
After tying it at 75, the Thunder went on a 12-2 run. By the end of the third, the Thunder’s lead was back at 10, and unlike last Wednesday in Los Angeles, there would be no late heroics as the stops came more sporadically despite 23 points from Jeff Green and 22 points from J.J. Redick on the night.
Key Moment: After watching the Thunder lead go back to double digits late in the third quarter, the Clippers would need to start the fourth on the right foot to get back in. Instead, it took the Thunder fewer than four minutes to get the lead up to 18.
Clippers Star: J.J. Redick – He was 5-for-8 from behind the arc and gave the Clippers chances late with 12 of his 22 points in the fourth quarter, but the Clippers couldn’t make enough stops to bridge the gap.
Thunder Star: Russell Westbrook – It began with his passing, as the Thunder point guard ended the first quarter with eight assists, then he added on the scoring as Westbrook finished with 25 points, 20 assists and 11 rebounds. The Thunder can live with his seven turnovers with those kinds of numbers.
X-Factor: Kevin Durant – Even on a night he seemed frustrated, particularly early on, Durant still finished with 30 points, 12 rebounds and seven assists while matching Redick with a 5-for-8 mark from long distance.
Quotes of the Night:
Doc Rivers – “I thought they played far more desperate than us tonight. They still had to make shots. They made everything, but when you’re at halftime and you’re shooting 59 percent and you’re down two, you know that probably doesn’t look good for you.”
J.J. Redick – When we would make a run, they’d always respond. They got off to a great start. You know, 39 points in the first quarter is unacceptable. We’ve been a good defensive team, and we were awful tonight.”
Chris Paul – “Last game had nothing to do with this game. I didn’t even think about last game this game. This was totally different. We just never could stop them.”
NOTES: Redick said he’ll need to get stitches for a gash to his chin that happened late in the game … The Clippers had just two offensive rebounds in the loss, while the Thunder totaled 10 … Green’s 23 points were his most in a game since joining the Clippers … DeAndre Jordan had 18 points but saw his double-digit rebound streak snapped at 19 straight games … The loss dropped the Clippers two and a half games back from the Thunder for third place in the Western Conference … The Clippers went 1-1 on their two-game road trip …