LOS ANGELES – The Thunder arrived in Los Angeles with the odds stacked against them – on the second night of a back-to-back in the midst of a six-game road swing and 12 out of 15 games away from home in the month. The rested LA Clippers were playing their fourth-straight game at home, and frankly, those differences were some part of what played out on the court on Monday night in a 120-98 Thunder loss.
Head Coach Billy Donovan’s club will get back to the drawing board before taking on the Golden State Warriors on Wednesday, and within the NBA’s protocol, will evaluate the availability of Steven Adams, who missed tonight’s game due to a concussion. Regardless of the schedule – every NBA team faces similar types of travel hardships – the Thunder knows that it can play better in just about every facet of the game compared to what it showed.
“We just have to be ready to play,” point guard Russell Westbrook said. “For the most part we came out a little sluggish, not being the more physical team. They started off with better intensity than we did.”
Turnovers, transition defense, ball containment and defensive rebounding were all issues for the Thunder on the night. They’re aspects of the game that have been typical strengths in wins and challenges in losses. On the night, the Thunder was out-rebounded 47-36, allowed 13 fast break points, 62 points in the paint and 54.9 percent shooting for the night, including 12-for-28 from three.
“We had a hard time generating baskets,” Donovan said. “We certainly didn’t make enough shots. Defensively we had made some strides over the last five to seven games, but it wasn’t one of our better defensive games.”
The tough times started early when the Clippers got three-pointers from two of their offensive catalysts, JJ Redick and Chris Paul, on the second and fourth offensive possessions of the game. LA gradually built out its lead through the quarter, but the Thunder’s second unit kept it close, pulling to within four at 40-36 on an Enes Kanter kick-out to Anthony Morrow for three with 8:25 to go in the second quarter.
From there, however, the Clippers rattled off a 24-6 run to break open a 22-point lead behind three straight layups then a barrage of three-pointers. The Thunder diligently attempted to get back into the game and though Donovan’s team continued to fight, in the end they came up well short.
The Thunder’s offense had trouble converting from both the perimeter and around the rim. Despite three three-pointers from Jerami Grant the team shot just 41.9 percent from the field and 10-for-30 from the three-point line.
“It’s just taking good shots. I was in the gym a lot this summer. I think it’s showing,” Grant said. “I have to keep it tuned. It’s a little bit of both fundamentals, rhythm and everything.”
Grant started in place of Adams and finished with nine points and eight rebounds. Russell Westbrook scored 24 points to go with five rebounds and four assists in 29 minutes, while Joffrey Lauvergne and Enes Kanter combined for 25 points and 14 rebounds off the bench.
“It was definitely tough,” Grant said. “We just have to put a whole game together and we’ll be okay.”
Thunder-Clippers Highlights: Jan. 16, 2017
- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -
By the Numbers
3-for-3 - Three-point shooting numbers for Jerami Grant, who is now shooting above 40 percent from three this season
23 - Points off 15 turnovers the Thunder allowed to the Clippers on the night
62-34 - The Thunder’s disadvantage in points in the paint, including 14 second chance points allowed
- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -
The Last Word
“Without Steven, we knew it was going to be a challenge. They probably felt the same way when they came to OKC without Blake Griffin and Chris Paul. You know it’s going to be a challenge. There’s a standard that we want to play to and we didn’t play to that standard on both ends of the floor." – Head Coach Billy Donovan