The Clippers lost 101-108 at Oklahoma City, their second straight defeat, and dropped from seventh to 11th. Darius Garland led the club with 16 points and 11 assists, but Shai Gilgeous-Alexander's 34 decided the night.
The first quarter set the terms for the night.
Oklahoma City ran off nine straight points to turn 12-12 into 12-21, and Tyronn Lue called timeout at 12-19 after a 7-0 burst. The Clippers answered with an 8-0 run of their own and cut it to 20-21, but the Thunder took the period 23-20. Only the opening quarter shows in the game flow we have, and it was a chase from the start. Credit the response, but note that Oklahoma City, rested for two days, was the team setting the tempo.
Garland did the work, and Dunn gave the best minutes.
Garland earns a B-plus: 16 points, 11 assists and four rebounds against a defense built to take away his space. Kris Dunn gets an A-minus for the best plus-minus on the roster, +6 over 10 minutes, with two steals and two blocks. Derrick Jones Jr. gets a D. He was minus-9 in eight minutes, the worst mark on the team, and committed a turnover. Gilgeous-Alexander finished with 34 points, six rebounds and five assists, more than double Garland's scoring.
Lue closed with a bench-flavored group and Garland on the sideline.
The final five minutes belonged to Brook Lopez, Gradey Dick, Keaton Wagler, Kobe Sanders and Dunn. Oklahoma City answered with Ajay Mitchell, Bennett Stirtz, Chet Holmgren, Isaiah Hartenstein and Jalen Williams. That is a 38-year-old center and a 19-year-old rookie guard asked to hold ground against a deeper group. With Brandon Ingram, Bradley Beal, Max Strus and Yanic Konan Niederhauser out, Lue has little else to choose from.
The standings now punish every missed night.
A week that began with a 121-96 win over the Kings has become a slide from second to 11th. The Clippers trail sixth-place Memphis, 2-0, by 1.5 games and sit level with 10th-place Dallas at 1-2. The Lakers arrive at Intuit Dome on Wednesday, October 28, after three days off, then the Clippers travel to Minnesota on October 30. Ingram, Beal, Strus and Niederhauser all carry a November 8 date, and Jordan Miller is listed until March 2, 2027. Until then, the margin for error is Garland and Lopez.
What is the Clippers' record after losing to the Thunder?
The Clippers are 1-2 after the 101-108 loss in Oklahoma City, and they are 11th in the West.
When do the Clippers play next?
They host the Lakers on Wednesday, October 28, then visit the Timberwolves on October 30.
