Preview 39 of 82: Thunder @ Clippers
Time: 9:30 PM CT
TV: TNT / Fox Sports Oklahoma
Radio: WWLS (98.1 FM OKC / 97.1 FM Tulsa)
Game Notes: Thunder / Clippers
If last night’s win over the Lakers was the last game I ever saw, I wouldn’t be mad about it. It was an extraordinary exhibition of near perfect team basketball from the Thunder. Every starter scored in double-digits and shot better than 50 percent from the field. The team as a whole shot 60.2 percent and 46.7 percent from three-point land. Almost every player who got in the game put up points except for Raymond Felton (10 assists) and Nick Collison (amazing hair). Basically, the Thunder showed absolutely no mercy against the young Lakers and I loved it.
Tonight, the Thunder (21-17) is staying in Los Angeles to face the Clippers (17-19) and we can only hope for more of the same. The Clippers have had a tumultuous, injury-ridden season so far, but they’ve managed to put together a four-game winning streak and won six of their last seven. Patrick Beverly is out, so it should be a good, clean game. (Yes, it’s been four years and I’m still bitter.)
Tip-off is at 9:30 PM CT on TNT and Fox Sports Oklahoma. The Thunder is currently a 2.5-point favorite.
Injury Report
Thunder
- Andre Roberson: Out — Knee
- Alex Abrines: Out — Groin
Clippers
- Austin Rivers: Questionable — Achilles
- Patrick Beverley: Out — Knee
- Danilo Gallinari: Out — Glute
Probable Starters
Clippers: Milos Teodosic, CJ Williams, Wesley Johnson, Blake Griffin, DeAndre Jordan
Statistics
Traditional
| Team | PF | PA | REB | AST | STL | BLK | TO | FG% | 3P% |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| LAC | 105.7 | 105.7 | 43.4 | 20.9 | 7.6 | 4.8 | 14.1 | 45.6 | 35.5 |
| OKC | 104.3 | 100.4 | 44.1 | 21.1 | 9.7 | 5.1 | 13.9 | 45.2 | 35.6 |
Four Factors
| Team | EFG% | FTA Rate | TOV% | OREB% | OPP EFG% | OPP FTA | OPP TOV% | OPP OREB% |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| LAC | 51.9 | 0.292 | 14.9 | 23.6 | 51.5 | 0.277 | 14.6 | 23.7 |
| OKC | 51.1 | 0.257 | 14.6 | 27.3 | 51.8 | 0.264 | 17.1 | 22.4 |
Synergy Sports
Click to Enlarge
Thunder O & D
Clippers O & D
Previous Results
11/10/17: OKC 120, LAC 111 [BOX SCORE]
Notes
A$AP Ferg. In case you missed it, Thunder rookie Terrance Ferguson had himself a night last night. He finished with 24 points on 9-12 shooting and tied the Thunder rookie-record with six made threes in his first career start. He also had two absolutely savage dunks — including this IN-GAME, dunk contest-worthy windmill:
Raymond’s Return. Thunder point guard Raymond Felton will face his former team tonight. Felton played the 2016-17 season with the Clippers, averaging 6.7 points and 2.4 assists per game. Felton has exceeded expectations in OKC and is becoming a worthy facilitator for the Thunder bench unit. He had a season-high 10 assists last night.
Blake’s Back. Since returning to the Clippers on December 29 after a knee sprain, Clippers forward Blake Griffin has scored at least 21 points in each of the first three games back. Holding Griffin to under 20 points will be a tall task, even for a stellar Thunder defense. OKC held him to 17 points on 5/19 shooting in the November 10 victory.
Steals on Steals. Speaking of defense, Russell Westbrook and Paul George are first and second in the league in steals per game (2.45 and 2.00, respectively). This speaks to the success of the Thunder’s defense overall — something the team has emphasized since the start of the season. The Thunder ranks fourth in overall defensive rating after the Celtics, Spurs, and Warriors.
Lou Will. Lou Williams lit up the Thunder for 35 points on 13/22 shooting on November 10. Keeping the super-sub in check will be a priority for the OKC defense.
