Game Grades: OKC Thunder stars shine to snap Clippers’ nine-game winning
By Ivan White
The Oklahoma City Thunder made a statement with their blowout win on Thursday.
The Thunder beat the Los Angeles Clippers 134-115 in their first meeting this season, snapping a nine-game Clippers winning streak. Shai Gilgeous-Alexander was the top performer in a game that featured many players facing their former team.
The OKC Thunder spoil returns to Paycom Center to snap the Clippers’ streak.
Russell Westbrook entered the game in the first quarter to a roaring ovation from his longtime home crowd. The former MVP helped the Clippers close a first-quarter deficit with eight points in the first frame.
While Westbrook finished with 15 points and 13 rebounds, a couple of other former Thunder stars put up 20-point games. James Harden and Paul George had solid nights for the Clippers before the game got out of hand, with 23 and 22 points, respectively.
The game got out of reach thanks to a big third-quarter run by the Thunder. After a couple of Harden makes from deep pushed the Clippers ahead for the first time, Chet Holmgren’s lob to himself ignited a 13-0 run.
From there, the Thunder extended their lead and never let the Clippers back into the game. Without Kawhi Leonard for the first time this season, the Thunder proved to be too much for the league’s hottest team.