Recap: Thunder at Clippers

By Nick Gallo and Paris Lawson | okcthunder.com

Box Score: OKC at LAC

It was the rematch for the Thunder against a wounded and hungry LA Clippers team, and OKC knew that it would have to absorb some haymakers, but even that preparation didn’t ensure the execution would be there for 48 minutes. 

After securing a win of the season series against the Clippers on Tuesday night in a thrilling 101-100 victory, the Thunder turned around to battle LA again without Paul George but with Kawhi Leonard squarely as the head of the snake. Leonard, stoic as ever, started the game with machine-like precision by going 7-for-7 from the field and didn’t relent throughout the night. Leonard finished the game with 32 points on 13-of-15 shooting from the field, mixing in mid-range jumpers and three-point shots while also kicking out passes to the perimeter for ball movement generated looks for teammates. 

Despite heading into halftime with the game tied at 54, the Thunder didn’t have enough physicality or execution to match the Clippers in the second half, as LA outscored the Thunder 73-51 over the final 24 minutes on the way to a 127-105 final score. It was a good learning opportunity for the Thunder in terms of what’s required against a tenacious and hungry opponent, but also a chance for this team to bounce back on Friday night against Los Angeles’ other team, the Lakers. 

Nick: Josh Giddey got the scoring started in this game, and helped the Thunder get off to a much better start than it did on Tuesday against these same Clippers. Instead of an 18-4 deficit, it was the Thunder who jumped out to an 18-11 edge in the opening stages of the first quarter, and it was Giddey who was a major catalyst as a scorer and playmaker. He hit a push shot to start things off, then later in the quarter he put in another runner before burying a catch-and-shoot 3 on the left wing that forced a Clippers timeout. Giddey scored seven of his 18 total points in the first quarter, and shot over 50 percent from the field for the 21st time in his last 30 games. 

Paris: Josh Giddey picked up the mismatch on the block being guarded by Ivica Zubac. Giddey dragged out the ball toward the wing, bringing the Clippers’ big man further and further away from the rim. Taking advantage of the space, rookie Jaylin Williams hit the gas on a back cut down the middle of the lane. Giddey hit a no-look bounce pass to Williams who elevated for an uncontested, one-handed dunk. The Thunder worked to exploit the mismatch against L.A.’s bigger paint protectors throughout the first half with drive and kick 3-pointers and back cuts off the ball. 

Nick: Rookie Jalen Williams showed once again his possession-by-possession ability to switch from play finisher to playmaker. Williams looped around an off-ball screen at the left elbow and darted sharply towards the nail, where Dario Šarić hit him perfectly in stride with a pass. Continuing his run, Williams burst to the rim and scored easily at the cup. A few possessions later, Williams again found himself in the middle of the lane, but this time he recognized the best scoring opportunity wasn’t for him, but a teammate. He kicked the ball back out to the top of the key for Ousmane Dieng, who buried the catch-and-shoot jumper. For the game, Williams chipped in 16 points, three rebounds and four assists, giving him his 48th game in double figures this season. 

Paris: Eric Gordon rumbled down the floor in transition thinking he had an open layup on the other end. Shai Gilgeous-Alexander had other plans. As Gordon elevated for the shot, Gilgeous-Alexander wrapped his arms around the ball and ripped it clean out of Gordon’s hands. The steal resulted in a dunk by Jalen Williams on the other end of the floor. It was that sort of scrappy, stingy defense that allowed the Thunder to stay in the game in the second quarter when its offense slowed to a mere crawl. OKC never trailed by more than 11 points in the frame and by halftime, the squad had the game all tied up at 54. 

Nick: At shootaround on Thursday morning the Thunder talked about how to deal with the Clippers’ hard trap against Shai Gilgeous-Alexander out top. Gilgeous-Alexander extended the trap by baiting it out higher behind the three-point line, then whipped a pass into the middle of the floor to Jaylin Williams where he had plenty of time and space to make a decision. It didn’t take Williams long though to pickout the right pass. He zipped it across to the right wing for an easy catch-and-shoot three-pointer for Josh Giddey. On the night, the Thunder used that quick passing attack to beat the double teams and racked up 24 assists on 41 made baskets, with 11 different players dishing out at least one assist. 

Paris: Josh Giddey missed the layup on the first attempt, but his teammates had his back. The ball bounced around the lane as players scrapped to gain possession. First, it was Lu Dort, then Giddey again, then it was Isaiah Joe tipping the loose ball back into the hands of Giddey who laid the ball in for a layup. OKC’s 11 second chance points came by committee against the bigger, more veteran players surrounding the rim for the Clippers. It was Giddey and Jeremiah Robinson-Earl who led the way for the offensive boards for OKC who racked up three each for the night.  

Nick: On the first possession of the fourth quarter, Jalen Williams attacked and found Lindy Waters III for a catch-and-shoot three-pointer, his second make from behind the arc in the game. In the fourth quarter it was a continuation of the Clippers three-point barrage that put this game out of reach for the Thunder. The Clippers hit 7 fourth quarter three-pointers as a part of 18 total in the game, many of which came on paint attacks, spray outs to the perimeter and swing passes around the arc for spot up shots. Both teams attack the paint in similar ways, but the veteran, savvy Clippers executed at a higher level on Thursday night.  

Paris: Terrance Mann initially guarded Jalen Williams, but as the rookie attacked hard to the middle of the floor, it forced a switch with the smaller Bones Hyland. Without skipping a beat, J-Dub used a quick spin move to keep Hyland on his back and open up a lane to the rim. Williams finished the play with a soft layup at the front of the basket and raked up his 16th point of the game. All the while, the rookie picked up the assignment of defending Clippers’ leading scorer Kawhi Leonard throughout the night. A testament to his versatility and high-motor as a rookie. 

“We didn't execute well enough and we weren't physical enough throughout the game. We had moments early, but certainly we weren't where we needed to be there. So turn the page and we have another opportunity tomorrow.” –Coach Daigneault 

“The great thing about a back-to-back especially after a night like tonight that it doesn't go our way - definitely not how we had planned coming in. We didn't execute the way we should have. But the good thing is 24 hours from now we get to go again against another good team.” –Josh Giddey

The Thunder will stay in Los Angeles for one more game with the second night of the back to back against the Los Angeles Lakers. The road trip concludes up in Portland on Sunday afternoon.

By Zach Beeker | OKC Thunder