Thunder Improve To 4-0 With Gritty Win Over Clippers

<p>The Oklahoma City Thunder improve to 4-0 on the season after an 85-83 win over the Clippers inside of the Staples Center in Los Angeles.&nbsp;</p>

Thursday, November 3rd 2016, 1:40 am

By: Brett Coppenbarger


The Oklahoma City Thunder improve to 4-0 on the season after an 85-83 win over the Clippers inside of the Staples Center in Los Angeles.

Related: Kevin Durant On OKC: 'The 405 Has A Special Place In My Heart'

In a sloppy game where both teams shot under 41 percent from the field, the Thunder was able to put together a gritty defensive performance to become the last reaming undefeated team in the Western Conference.

Russell Westbrook led the way for OKC with 35 points, six rebounds and five assists as he was the only Thunder player to score in double digits despite 12 players on the team scoring at least two points.

After a back-and-forth game in the first half, the Thunder held a 10-point lead in the third quarter but Clippers clawed back into the game with a 21-to-8 run and took a one-point lead into the fourth frame.

OKC’s offense appeared to stall throughout the final quarter, and Chris Paul hit back-to-back clutch jumpers for LA that put the Clippers up 78-76 with 5:48 left in the game.

Staring at a small deficit, Westbrook decided to take over the game in crunch time.

OKC’s point guard sucked in the attention of the Clippers’ defense and zipped a pass to a wide-open Domantas Sabonis for a 3-pointer to give the Thunder a lead. Then after two minutes of scoreless basketball, Westbrook finished off a fastbreak layup to give OKC an 81-78 lead. With just over a minute left in the game and the Clippers searching for a basket, Westbrook locked down defensively and poked the ball away from Jamal Crawford before hammering it home on another fastbreak to put the Thunder up 83-78.

J.J. Redick hit a three pointer to make the game interesting in the final minute, but Westbrook drained a dagger jumper from the elbow over the outstretched arm of DeAndre Jordan to seal the OKC win.

Victor Oladipo was second on the team in scoring with nine points and five rebounds, while Steven Adams finished with only one basket to go with his 11 rebounds.

OKC’s newest addition, Jerami Grant, played well in the win, finishing with six points, two rebounds and two blocks in only 18 minutes of action. Grant was sound defensively, and looks to be a great addition to the Thunder’s second unit.

The Thunder will be back in action on Thursday night at 9:30 when OKC takes on Kevin Durant and the Golden State Warriors. 

After a back-and-forth game in the first half, the Thunder held a 10-point lead in the third quarter but Clippers clawed back into the game with a 21-to-8 run and took a one-point lead into the fourth frame.

OKC’s offense appeared to stall throughout the final quarter, and Chris Paul hit back-to-back clutch jumpers for LA that put the Clippers up 78-76 with 5:48 left in the game.

Staring at a small deficit, Westbrook decided to take over the game in crunch time.

OKC’s point guard sucked in the attention of the Clippers’ defense and zipped a pass to a wide-open Domantas Sabonis for a 3-pointer to give the Thunder a lead. Then after two minutes of scoreless basketball, Westbrook finished off a fastbreak layup to give OKC an 81-78 lead. With just over a minute left in the game and the Clippers searching for a basket, Westbrook locked down defensively and poked the ball away from Jamal Crawford before hammering it home on another fastbreak to put the Thunder up 83-78.

J.J. Redick hit a three pointer to make the game interesting in the final minute, but Westbrook drained a dagger jumper from the elbow over the outstretched arm of DeAndre Jordan to seal the OKC win.

In Russ We Trust!

— Steve McGehee (@SteveMcGehee) November 3, 2016

Victor Oladipo was second on the team in scoring with nine points and five rebounds, while Steven Adams finished with only one basket to go with his 11 rebounds.

OKC’s newest addition, Jerami Grant, played well in the win, finishing with six points, two rebounds and two blocks in only 18 minutes of action. Grant was sound defensively, and looks to be a great addition to the Thunder’s second unit.

What stinks? OKC has to play the Warriors on a back-to-back, happened twice last year in Oakland #News9Thunder

— Steve McGehee (@SteveMcGehee) November 3, 2016

The Thunder will be back in action on Thursday night at 9:30 when OKC takes on Kevin Durant and the Golden State Warriors. 

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The Oklahoma City Thunder improve to 4-0 on the season after an 85-83 win over the Clippers inside of the Staples Center in Los Angeles. 

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