Taking on the challenge of facing the NBA’s top team and one of the league’s standout players, the Clippers were under pressure on Sunday. They were aiming to stretch their winning streak to six games.
Despite their efforts, they couldn’t quite close the deal against the Oklahoma City Thunder and Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, narrowly losing 103-101 in a nail-biter at the Intuit Dome.
Kawhi Leonard highlighted the team’s struggles, saying, “We had too many turnovers. Right at the end, we gave up two or three. We kept fighting hard though. We were in it the whole time. Some calls could’ve gone either way, but hats off to them – they’re the best in the league right now.”
The Clippers stumbled when Derrick Jones Jr. sank only one of two free throws with just 1:22 on the clock, leaving them down 101-100 before the real pressure kicked in.
In a couple of minutes that remained, things didn’t go as planned. Ivica Zubac’s fumble, leading to a turnover with 1:01 left, dashed one opportunity to edge ahead. Then Norman Powell’s missed shot, followed by Leonard’s miss after Zubac managed an offensive rebound, sealed their fate with just four seconds left.
This setback saw the Clippers’ record slide to 40-31, putting them eighth in the Western Conference, a single game shy of the sixth slot that guarantees an automatic playoff spot, with 11 games yet to play.
Expressing his desire to avoid additional challenges, Powell shared, “I’ve been in the play-in before, and I’m not keen on doing it again. We’re closely watching the standings, hoping other teams falter, and focusing on maintaining our momentum. This road trip is crucial for us.”
Gilgeous-Alexander, although not at his sharpest, managed 26 points, still leaving a significant mark. He was flawless from the line, making all 11 free throws, especially crucial ones in the dying moments.
Leonard contributed with 25 points and 10 rebounds. James Harden added 17 points, surpassing Moses Malone for 11th on the NBA’s all-time scoring chart. Zubac chipped in with 15 points and 11 rebounds.
Afterward, Harden was seen limping, having taken a knock on his left thigh from Thunder’s Luguentz Dort in the third quarter, saying he had twisted his foot during the action.
The Thunder, now having swept their season series against the Clippers, boasts the NBA’s best at 59-12. Gilgeous-Alexander, a leading MVP contender, sets the pace at 32.9 points per game.
Not all was bleak for the Clippers, as coach Tyronn Lue returned to the sidelines. He’d missed several games due to back pain, but during his absence, assistant coach Brian Shaw led them to a 6-1 stretch.
Lue expressed gratitude toward his staff, saying, “I feel a lot better, just taking it day by day. The pain in my shoulder and back even extended down my leg. Now it’s more manageable. My staff kept us in great shape during my absence.”
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Originally reported by the Los Angeles Times.
