The cat and the Mouse. A hare and a tortoise. You can use any image you want. This shock had a pattern: Paul George and the Clippers took a lead, the Thunder reacted and came back. It starts from the first minutes when Los Angeles scores its first five shots. Oklahoma City is keeping pace. With two winning baskets in the final seconds, the Californians won the first quarter (35-30).
The minutes fly by and the two teams are very close. Paul George can offer a small series and make a gap, the Thunder responds again immediately (65-61).
It's still the same story after the break. Tyronn Lue's men defended harder but baskets from Shai Gilgeous-Alexander and Isaiah Joe kept the suspense going. There is nevertheless a bit of slack, with three minutes without a basket, for the Thunder. The Clippers finally take a break (99-89).
That's obviously not enough, as Oklahoma City is still so catchy. Even without SGA, stuck on the bench with his mistakes. That’s when Paul George enters the picture. He makes baskets, steals balls and with 18 points in the last quarter, the winger makes the difference. The Thunder, despite a good Jalen Williams, finally gave up and the Clippers won 128-117.
WHAT YOU MUST REMEMBER
– Paul George's last quarter. With 18 points at 7/9 shooting including 3/5 at 3-pts and two intercepted balls, the former Thunder player was the one who swung the match into the Clippers' camp. This last act confirms his rise in power (28 points in the second half) because he had only scored two points at the end of the first quarter. Best player of the match, he finished with 38 points (15/24 shooting), 7 rebounds, 5 assists and 3 interceptions.
– Los Angeles, complicated passage for the Thunder. Two matches in two days and two defeats against Los Angeles teams for the Thunder. After the setback against the Lakers, SGA and his gang lost against the Clippers. Don't panic, however, because both times they were short defeats. In addition, the Nuggets lost in Philadelphia and do not take advantage of it in the Western Conference standings to get closer to the Thunder.
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How to read the stats? Min = Minutes; Shots = Successful shots / Attempted shots; 3pts = 3-points / 3-points attempted; LF = free throws made / free throws attempted; O = offensive rebound; D=defensive rebound; T = Total rebounds; Pd = assists; Fte: Personal fouls; Int = Intercepts; Bp = Lost balls; Ct: Against; +/- = Point differential when the player is on the field; Pts = Points; Eval: player evaluation calculated from positive actions – negative actions.
