Rowan Kavner
OKLAHOMA CITY – The message is simple now.
After losing three games in a row for the first time since Doc Rivers took over as head coach, Rivers wants the Clippers to turn the page and look ahead to how they can still salvage an eight-game road trip in which they’ve started 2-4.
The Clippers (33-18) have two games left on the trip to get things right, beginning Sunday afternoon in Oklahoma City against the Thunder (25-25).
“We can win two games and go .500 on this trip,” Rivers said. “There’s a lot of life still left. It’s a long season. Whatever happens, happens. You just have to keep playing.”
Rivers said when a team’s playing well, that’s who that team is. When a team’s playing poorly, that’s also who that team is at that moment. Right now, the Clippers are the latter, looking to get back to being the former.
Tipoff: 10:00am PST
It wasn’t long ago the Clippers were on a six-game winning streak, and even earlier this road trip they beat the Spurs by 20 points in San Antonio. Blake Griffin knows this time right before the All-Star break can be the toughest mentally, particularly on an eight-game road trip, but that’s no excuse for poor play.
“Our sense of urgency can’t go down,” Griffin said. “There’s no excuse for that. It hurts to have J.J. (Redick) out, but guys need to step up. We need to find a way, we need to be better, but like I said, can’t get too low. But our sense of urgency needs to go sky high right now.”
LAST TIME OUT
Raptors 123, Clippers 107 – The Clippers led by 20 late in the first quarter, appearing poised to put their consecutive losses behind them. Then disaster struck, as the Raptors managed a 36-point swing from late in the first quarter to the end of the third to take a lead the Clippers couldn’t overcome. Despite 26 points, nine boards and six assists from Blake Griffin and 22 points, nine assists and six boards from Chris Paul, the Clippers still lost their third straight.
Pelicans 116, Thunder 113 – It was a crazy finish in Oklahoma City, as Anthony Davis delivered on a double-clutch, buzzer-beating 3-pointer – his first of the season – which somehow evaded the outstretched hand of Kevin Durant to give him 41 points on the night and win it for the Pelicans. Russell Westbrook finished with a career-high 48 points, 11 assists and nine rebounds, while Tyreke Evans had a triple-double with 22 points, 16 assists and 10 rebounds.
NOTEWORTHY MATCHUP
Chris Paul vs. Russell Westbrook – It seems like every night now that Paul has to face an elite, All-Star caliber point guard. Sunday won’t be an exception, as he’ll go up against a player who’ll join him on the Western Conference All-Star team and who’s coming off one of his best performances ever. Westbrook got hurt early in the regular season opener against the Clippers, allowing the Clippers to avoid both Westbrook and Kevin Durant, who was also injured, for the majority of the game. Paul had 22 points and seven assists in that game. He’ll get a much bigger test this time around.
TWO THINGS TO WATCH
Whose Hangover? Both teams are coming off excruciating losses. The Clippers squandered an early 20-point lead, while the Thunder watched Davis sink their hopes at the buzzer. The Clippers have done a good job the last couple years of shaking off losses, but they’re currently in the midst of a rare three-game losing streak. The winner of Sunday’s game will have gotten past Friday’s respective loss more easily.
Ball Movement – The Clippers lead the league in assist-to-turnover ratio. Even in their downswings and on their bad nights, they tend to take care of the ball. Meanwhile, the Thunder are in the bottom five in the league in assist-to-turnover ratio, recording an assist on just 53.6 percent of their field goals. The Clippers have a good chance at winning the turnover battle, but if they want to turn things around, they’ll have to do a better job stopping the opponent’s dribble penetration.
NOTES: The Clippers are 20-7 against the West and 13-11 against the East … Doc Rivers coached Thunder center Kendrick Perkins for seven seasons in Boston … The Clippers are 1-0 against the Thunder this year and have won three of the last five regular season matchups … This will mark the Clippers’ first trip to Oklahoma City since Game 5 of last season’s Western Conference Semifinals … J.J. Redick is listed as doubtful (back spasms) … Matt Barnes said the loss of Redick has been felt in a major way … “He just brings so much energy, and I think he’s one of the leading scorers in the first quarter,” Barnes said. “To lose that punch is tough. We have to weather it.” ...
