The Thunder may still have one of the youngest squads in the NBA, but their mastery is impressive. Led by 13 points in the first half by the Clippers, teammates Shai Gilgeous-Alexander Nibbled away, minute after minute, their deficit to finally sign a one-sided 4th quarter and win 105-92 at the Intuit Dome.
Once again, Tyronn Lue's players cracked over time, and yet they had managed the perfect start with one bias: taking as many 3-point shots as possible.
James Harden and his partners take 19 in the first quarter, and thanks in particular to Kris Dunn, they lead 35-22 at the start of the second quarter. A real deluge in the face of which OKC does not panic. Maybe because the Thunder also have some good outside shooters, like Isaiah Joe.
In its wake, OKC regains color, and the match turns into “hurray basketball”. Kevin Porter Jr. is comfortable in this type of game, but so are the Thunder, and the leaders of the Western Conference sign a 13-0 to take control of the meeting (50-47). The power of Jalen Williams hurts, and Shai Gilgeous-Alexander confirms that he brings real danger at 3-points. It's Norman Powell who answers him, and the Clippers return to the locker room with a four-point lead (57-53).
Two minutes to kill the match
Norman Powell is by far the best Clipper, but his teammates are too clumsy, and OKC stays in touch. It is through its defense that the Thunder begins to hurt, with counterattacks from Shai Gilgeous-Alexander and Chet Holmgren. Just like with the contribution from the bench, with the 3-points from Cason Wallace and Aaron Wiggins. The Clippers are finding it more and more difficult to get to the circle, and the Thunder are back in control (81-78).
Tyronn Lue's players come up against an increasingly high defense, and the Thunder attacks the last quarter with a 7-0 to take a 10-point lead (88-78).
The Clippers coach takes two timeouts in three minutes, but there is nothing to be done. Joe connects 3-pointers, and Jalen Williams continues to break the lines and find his shooters. Five minutes from the end, Mark Daigneault restarts “SGA”, and it’s the final blow. In two minutes, OKC signs a 9-0 to take an 18-point lead. The Clippers are KO, and the Thunder coach calls his stars back to celebrate this 6th victory in a row.
WHAT TO REMEMBER
– A historic start. Even the Thunder of the great era had never managed such a start to the season. For the first time in its history, OKC starts with six victories in six matches. And Mark Daigneault's players have never shown signs of weakness.
– Shai Gilgeous-Alexander is far from alone. It doesn't happen every night, but the Thunder leader didn't score a single point in the last quarter. He sat there for seven minutes, and he only came back for two minutes. Time to participate in a fatal 9-0.
– No home victory. Four matches and four defeats for the Clippers in their Intuit Dome. The evening started with fireworks with 19 3-pointers in the first quarter. It’s a franchise record, but with the exception of Norman Powell, the Clippers were very clumsy: 2/9 at 3-points for James Harden, 0/5 for Derrick Jones Jr, 1/4 for Nicolas Batum…
|
||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
|
||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
How to read the stats? Min = Minutes; Shots = Successful shots / Attempted shots; 3pts = 3-points / 3-points attempted; LF = free throws made / free throws attempted; O = offensive rebound; D=defensive rebound; T = Total rebounds; Pd = assists; Fte: Personal fouls; Int = Intercepts; Bp = Lost balls; Ct: Against; +/- = Point differential when the player is on the field; Pts = Points; Eval: player evaluation calculated from positive actions – negative actions.
