The Oklahoma City Thunder and Los Angeles Clippers have similar records in the National Basketball Association standings. However, on Thursday you would never know it, as the Thunder clobbered the Clippers 129-107 at the Paycom Center. Heading into the game, the Clippers were at 36 wins and 17 losses, and the Thunder were at 37 wins and 17 losses.
Now, the Thunder are a game and a half up on the Denver Nuggets and Clippers and in second place in the Western Conference. The Thunder are one game back of the first place Minnesota Timberwolves. It was a rather tight first half as the Thunder had the narrow 61-59, before Oklahoma City dominated the second half outscoring the Clippers 68-48.
All five Thunder starters reached double digits in scoring. Canadian superstar and 2023 Northern Star Award winner Shai Gilgeous-Alexander of Toronto, Ontario led the Thunder in scoring with 31 points. Fellow Canadian and forward Luguentz Dort of Montreal, Quebec had 19 points, forward Jalen Williams of Denver, Colorado had 18 points, former second overall pick and center Chet Holmgren of Minneapolis, Minnesota had the double-double (17 points and 10 rebounds), and Australia’s own Josh Giddey of Melbourne (12 points).
Anyway you look at it, this Thunder team is playing some very special basketball. They not only beat a Clippers team with their big three (Kawhi Leonard, James Harden and Paul George), but won easily in every sense of the word.
The Thunder have a rather easier part of their schedule over the next week. They play two games against the Houston Rockets and one game each against the Washington Wizards and San Antonio Spurs.
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