LA Clippers defeat OKC in a great matchup with Paul George coming up big_ Jan. 2024
In a big matchup of two of the top four teams in the Western Conference, the LA Clippers beat the Oklahoma City Thunder at Crytop.com Arena in an intense, great game. Paul George started off slowly but ended up with 38 points played his best game of the season hitting 14 of his last 18 shots and zero turnovers, which is been his achilles’ heel. The Clippers also learned that their starting Center, Ivica Zubac will be out at least a month from an injured calf strain. Mason Plumlee stepped in as a starting center and played huge minutes going 5-5 in shooting and backup Center Daniel Theis played great defense and added a spark. Between both of them, they ended with 23 points and 13 rebounds as they’ll have to continue this type of energy and play for the clippers to be successful but that they’re starting big man.
It was an all-around team effort with everyone contributing. Westbrook was his usual, energetics self off the bench and playing great defense against OKC’s MVP Shai Gilgeous Alexander. Both teams are on fire from three point range of the Clippers shot 46% on 20-43 while OKC was 16 for 34. Dort was five for eight and Isaiah Joe was five for six. Jalen Williams leather visitors of 28 points as this was a tough back-and-forth match up until late in the fourth quarter when the clippers ran away and won 128 to 117. Their starting rookie center, Chet Holmgren (who missed all of last season with an injury) had an off game as he’s been playing outstanding this year. It looked like Paul George had something to prove vs his old team as he was the key figure in the big trade five years ago that brought Alexander and a slew of first round draft picks to the Thunder including Jalen Williams, which is turned the team around.
Even though OKC got the best of that trade, which George admitted, the Clippers have built their team around himself and his convincing to sign them free agent, Kawhi Leonard. So OKC was built for the future while the clippers are built for now. James Harden at 16 points at eight assists and Leonard and that up with 16 points as well. Coach Tyronn Lue was impressed with his teams performance in the big game that pulled them within one game of OKC in the standings. Los Angeles has the best record in the NBA of 18-4 since December 1st and have team chemistry with all their stars and deep bench. More at nba.com/clippers