Los Angeles Clippers thrash Oklahoma City Thunder 112-100 - NBA Recap
Los Angeles Clippers have been a treat to watch so far in the shortened NBA season. With a modified roster, consisting of Chris Paul and Chauncey Billups, the 'Lob City' is emerging as one of the dominant teams in the league.
On Monday night, the Clippers continued their impressive run, which saw them beat the Denver Nuggets and Memphis Grizzlies last week, and collected their third straight win in five days. Their victim, this time was a team which entered the game with a league best 16-3 record, the Oklahoma City Thunder.
In what was built up as the clash of two of the youngest and most exciting teams in the NBA, the Clippers romped to a 112-100, improving their record to 12-6.
It was a team performance and the complete starting lineup played a role in the win.
Chris Paul stole the show with his 26 points on a near perfect shooting, knocking down 12-for-16 from the floor and 14 assists. Caron Butler and Blake Griffin both accumulated 22 while reserve guard Maurice Williams added 12 points. DeAndre Jordan also completed a double-double, netting 11 points and forcing 11 boards with three blocks.
The Clippers were mighty accurate with their shooting with a healthy 56.2% from the floor including an aggressive 13-for-25 from outside the arc. They also outclassed the opponents in the assists 28-15.
Thunder had a strange game, especially the first three quarters. During that phase, the OKC team only found their shots from Kevin Durant and Russell Westbrook. After three, the highest score any other Thunder player could muster was 4.
The duo was yet again outstanding and marshalled the Thunder's offense in true sense of the word. Durant was the more dominant of two and pounded a game high 36 points on 14-for-23 from the floor and also produced 13 boards. Westbrook was 13-for-26 from the floor and finished with 31 points while the reserve Daequan Cook gathered 12 points, including 8 in the last frame.
The Clippers got off to a 13-7 start and then with a help of a 10-6 spurt, capped by a Maurice Williams 3, increased their authority. After finishing the first frame with an 11 point lead, 36-25, they pushed the momentum into the second frame and courtesy of four 3 pointers in the last minute before the break, the hosts shut the half with a mammoth 18 point lead 64-46.
With the only resistance from the other end coming from Westbrook and Durant, the Clippers charge extended into the third frame. The OKC offensive plays were predictable and the Clippers easily thrawted all their attempts to mount a comeback. Paul, picking up the pace also didn't help as he drilled a three before the buzzer to end the third frame with a 90-70 lead.
The Thunder were outstanding in the last frame and outscored the Clippers 30-22, however in the end they still fell short by 12 points.
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