Thunder vs Clippers: Pregame Primer

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Thunder (35-27, 21-8 home) vs. Clippers (41-23, 17-14 road)

TV: TNT
Stream: Click here
Radio: WWLS The Sports Animal (98.1 FM, 640 AM, 1300 AM The Buzz Tulsa)
Time: 7:00 CT

Offensive Rating: Thunder – 106.3 (14th), Clippers – 111.8 (1st)
Defensive Rating: Thunder – 103.6 (11th), Clippers – 105.5 (14th)

This game would be a whole lot more fun if the likes of Kevin Durant and Blake Griffin were playing, but we will still be treated to a matchup of Chris Paul and Russell Westbrook. Paul was questionable for tonight’s game with a bothersome left knee but he will play. His reward: facing off against the force of nature that is Westbrook, recent Player of the Week and Month honoree. Better use lots of Kinesio Tape, Chris.

The Clippers have been surprisingly good considering the loss of Griffin back on February 8, the last time they played in Oklahoma City. The Clippers have sandwiched wins against the Timberwolves with losses to Portland and at Golden State. The Clippers have survived largely because center DeAndre Jordan has played out of his mind, averaging 19.3 rebounds per game in his previous 12 games.

The Thunder enter tonight’s game with the same type of pressure they’ve had on them all season. They are virtually tied with New Orleans for the 8th and final playoff spot in the West. They need to collect every W they can from here on out. Fortunately, the Thunder showed they can manhandle these Clippers. In their last meeting (you may also remember this as “The Mitch McGary Game”), the Thunder won in resounding fashion, 131-108. Some of the players have changed since then and Durant is unavailable, but the urgency to win remains the same.

3 Big Things

1. Enes Kanter. The matchup of Kanter and Jordan should be interesting. Kanter has faced the Clippers four times this season as a member of the Utah Jazz. He averaged 15 points and 6.8 rebounds per game in those four games, but shot only 45.5% from the field and had a Defensive Rating of 116. However, Kanter is being used differently than he was with the Jazz, who utilized him more like the Thunder uses Serge Ibaka. Should be interesting to see how well Kanter plays around the basket with Jordan around.

2. Kyle Singler. Kanter and D.J. Augustin have both performed well since coming over at the trade deadline. The other key addition, Singler, has struggled. He’s started every game since he arrived and has shot 30.8% from the field and 33.3% from three in the 9 games since. Tonight would be a good opportunity for him to step up and show what he can offer the team once Durant returns.

3. Westbrook vs. Paul. Russ can go a long way towards quieting folks who think Paul may be a better point guard (to be fair, those same folks think Russ is a better overall player). He’s coming off a 30 point, 11 rebound, 17 assist performance against the Raptors. He averaged 44 points per game in the three games prior to that. His assist percentage is 48.5% compared to 46.9& from Paul. Can he pull off another triple double in less than 3 quarters? Will he rescue children from a burning buss between quarters? What can’t he do at this point?

Tip at 7:00 CT.