Player Grades: OKC Thunder bounce back, send Clippers to third straight defeat with a 110-104 win

The OKC Thunder bounced back into winning form sending the Los Angeles Clippers to their third straight defeat with a 110-104 win at Chesapeake Arena.

After back to back losses on the road, the OKC Thunder returned home to send the Los Angeles Clippers to their fourth loss in five games winning  110-104 at Chesapeake Arena. With the win, OKC remain in third place on a congested Western Conference ladder and move to 11-3 at home.

Using aggressive defense from the outset, OKC forced 26 Clippers turnovers and accumulated 11 steals in the contest to win the points off turnover battle 22-10 and fast break points 20-10. The Thunder obliterated the Clippers for 54 points inside with Steven Adams and Jerami Grant wrecking havoc on LA’s big’s.

Despite this, the Clippers were hot from beyond the arc, landing 13-25 from 3-point range to keep the game close. LA used a 9-0 run to close a 16-point OKC lead in the fourth to seven only to have turnovers spoil the rally and fall short.

Paul George continued his red-hot form pacing the the Thunder with 33 points (11-19 from the field, 5-9 from three, 6-8 from the line), seven rebounds and six assists but it was Jerami Grant who provided the energy from start to finish.

The 24 year-old filled the box score posting 18 points, four rebounds, one assist, two steals and three blocks. Grant set the tone early with two big blocks on Clippers center Marcin Gortat and the Thunder defense never looked back. The 25 year-old is quickly becoming a complete two way player offering rim protection, strong perimeter defense and a budding offensive game. Grant gave the Clippers trouble all night long, playing a large hand in bringing the W to OKC.

Russell Westbrook had a mixed game struggling to finish inside but strangely shot 3-4 from distance en-route to 13 points (4-17 from the field, 3-4 from three, 2-3 from the line), 9 rebounds, 12 assists and six steals in 36 minutes. Russ’ struggles to finish inside continue but he is receiving the looks he has been given his entire career. This appears to be nothing more than a funk that OKC fans need to be patient with.

Danilo Gallinari was fantastic for the Clips, torching OKC for 28 points, seven rebounds, two assists and two steals on 10-16 shooting, 4-6 from 3-point range and 4-5 from the line. The Italian turns into the second coming of Michael Jordan as soon as he see’s a Thunder jumper and torches anyone who guards him.

Lets see who the best performers were from tonight’s win.