Game ID: 22300379
LA Clippers @ Oklahoma City Thunder
Thursday, December 21, 2023 at 8:00 PM ET
Paycom Center, Oklahoma City, OK
Q1 Q2 Q3 Q4 Final
OKC 35 29 45 25 134LAC 29 30 33 23 115
LAC @ OKC ScoutingLAC @ OKC Scouting
Welcome to the scouting desk. The coffee is cold, the film is play-by-play, and somebody has to explain what happened.
Every game has a hinge — a stretch where it was decided, usually while everyone was watching something else. Start where the evidence lives: the Lineups' face-offs say which five actually won their minutes; the Possessions ledger says who ran ahead of the night's own pace; the Shot Chart says where the points really came from, which is rarely where the highlights were. When all three agree, that is the story. When they don't — that is why this desk has a chair.
OKC availability going into 12/11 · 2 days' restOUT Micić missed 6 since 11/25, returns tonight: 16 min (133% of 12)
OUT Dieng missed 4 since 11/30, returns tonight: 26 min (262% of 10)
BACK Jal. Williams back 11/28 after 3, 33 min since (103% of 32)
OKC availability going into 12/14 · 2 days' restBACK Micić back 12/11 after 6, 16 min since (133% of 12)
BACK Dieng back 12/11 after 4, 26 min since (262% of 10)
OKC availability going into 12/16 · 1 day's restBACK Micić back 12/11 after 6, 16 min since (133% of 12)
BACK Dieng back 12/11 after 4, 18 min since (183% of 10)
OKC availability going into 12/18 · 1 day's restOUT Micić missed 2 since 12/14, returns tonight: 7 min (61% of 12)
BACK Dieng back 12/11 after 4, 14 min since (138% of 10)
OKC availability going into 12/21 · 2 days' restBACK Micić back 12/11 after 6, 12 min since (97% of 12)
BACK Dieng back 12/11 after 4, 15 min since (151% of 10)
OKC availability going into 12/23 · 1 day's restBACK Micić back 12/11 after 6, 12 min since (97% of 12)
BACK Dieng back 12/11 after 4, 14 min since (136% of 10)
OKC availability going into 12/26 · 2 days' restOUT Micić missed 2 since 12/21, returns tonight: 16 min (133% of 12)
OKC availability going into 12/27 · back-to-backBACK Micić back 12/18 after 2, 12 min since (97% of 12)
OKC availability going into 12/29 · 1 day's restOUT Dieng missed 2 since 12/26, out tonight
BACK Micić back 12/18 after 2, 12 min since (97% of 12)
LAC availability going into 12/14 · 1 day's restOUT Tucker missed 7 since 11/29, out tonight
OUT Plumlee missed 17 since 11/08, out tonight
OUT Boston missed 2 since 12/11, out tonight
BACK Coffey back 12/12 after 4, 9 min since (43% of 21)
BACK Hyland back 12/12 after 4, 9 min since (64% of 14)
LAC availability going into 12/16 · 1 day's restOUT Tucker missed 8 since 11/29, out tonight
OUT Plumlee missed 18 since 11/08, out tonight
OUT Boston missed 3 since 12/11, returns tonight: 5 min (50% of 10)
BACK Coffey back 12/12 after 4, 19 min since (93% of 21)
BACK Hyland back 12/12 after 4, 9 min since (64% of 14)
LAC availability going into 12/18 · 1 day's restOUT Tucker missed 9 since 11/29, out tonight
OUT Plumlee missed 19 since 11/08, out tonight
OUT Hyland missed 2 since 12/14, out tonight
BACK Coffey back 12/12 after 4, 18 min since (89% of 21)
BACK Boston back 12/16 after 3, 5 min since (50% of 10)
LAC availability going into 12/20 · 1 day's restOUT Tucker missed 10 since 11/29, out tonight
OUT Plumlee missed 20 since 11/08, out tonight
OUT Hyland missed 3 since 12/14, out tonight
BACK Coffey back 12/12 after 4, 18 min since (89% of 21)
BACK Boston back 12/16 after 3, 6 min since (55% of 10)
LAC availability going into 12/21 · back-to-backOUT Tucker missed 11 since 11/29, out tonight
OUT Plumlee missed 21 since 11/08, out tonight
OUT Hyland missed 4 since 12/14, returns tonight: 10 min (71% of 14)
BACK Coffey back 12/12 after 4, 23 min since (109% of 21)
BACK Boston back 12/16 after 3, 6 min since (55% of 10)
LAC availability going into 12/23 · 1 day's restOUT Tucker missed 12 since 11/29, out tonight
OUT Plumlee missed 22 since 11/08, out tonight
BACK Hyland back 12/21 after 4, 10 min since (71% of 14)
BACK Boston back 12/16 after 3, 9 min since (91% of 10)
NEW Coffey 21 to 27 min over the last 5
LAC availability going into 12/26 · 2 days' restOUT Leonard missed 2 since 12/21, out tonight
OUT Tucker missed 13 since 11/29, out tonight
OUT Plumlee missed 23 since 11/08, out tonight
BACK Hyland back 12/21 after 4, 9 min since (64% of 14)
BACK Boston back 12/16 after 3, 10 min since (101% of 10)
LAC availability going into 12/29 · 2 days' restOUT Leonard missed 3 since 12/21, out tonight
OUT Tucker missed 14 since 11/29, out tonight
OUT Plumlee missed 24 since 11/08, out tonight
BACK Hyland back 12/21 after 4, 9 min since (64% of 14)
NEW Coffey 21 to 26 min over the last 5
LAC availability going into 1/01 · 2 days' restOUT Leonard missed 4 since 12/21, returns tonight: 34 min (99% of 34)
OUT Tucker missed 15 since 11/29, out tonight
OUT Plumlee missed 25 since 11/08, out tonight
OUT Hyland missed 2 since 12/26, out tonight
OUT Boston missed 2 since 12/26, returns tonight: 3 min (29% of 10)
NEW Coffey 21 to 29 min over the last 5
I Know — the desk, before tip-off
Written before tip-off, from the five games each side brought in.
OKC comes in 4-1 over its last five, scoring 126 a night and allowing 120, shooting 49 percent and 32 from three, 27 free throws a game; Gilgeous-Alexander at 33 and Holmgren at 17 a game. It has lost the glass by 5 a night. 2 days' rest. The Clippers come in 5-0 over their last five, scoring 131 a night and allowing 114, shooting 55 percent and 43 from three, 27 free throws a game; Leonard at 30 and Harden at 21 a game. That is 5 straight wins. They have won the glass by 6 a night. Without Tucker (11 straight). Second night of a back-to-back.
So: OKC wins, and the game turns on the glass, where the Clippers have been plus-6 a night and OKC minus-5 and the arc, the Clippers at 43 percent from three to OKC's 32. Call it OKC 120, the Clippers 118, the Clippers keeping it close.
12/11 vs UTA 134-120 — OKC notes
OKC won 134-120. OKC shot 52% (50 of 96) to UTA's 48%, 18 of 38 from three. Gilgeous-Alexander led with 30 (12 of 17, 6 of 6 at the line); Dieng added 18, Holmgren 16. The hinge was Q3, 45-23: a lead of 14 became 36. Gilgeous-Alexander was the night's best plus/minus at +35.
12/14 @ SAC 123-128 — OKC notes
OKC lost 123-128. OKC shot 43% (44 of 102) to SAC's 49%, 11 of 36 from three, and went to the line 27 times to SAC's 21 — 24 points from the stripe to their 16. Gilgeous-Alexander led with 43 (13 of 27, 1 of 5 from three, 16 of 18 at the line); Giddey added 18, Dort 17. Q4 was theirs, 31-28, the deficit cut from 8 to 5, but the other 3 periods went 100-92 against them. Wallace's -18 in 19 minutes was the worst on the floor.
12/16 @ DEN 118-117 — OKC notes
OKC won 118-117. OKC shot 51% (43 of 84) to DEN's 45%, 7 of 21 from three, and went to the line 30 times to DEN's 24 — 25 points from the stripe to their 21. Gilgeous-Alexander led with 25 (9 of 20, 7 of 8 at the line); Jal. Williams added 24, Holmgren 17. The hinge was Q4, 33-30: OKC came in trailing by 2 and left it ahead by 1. OKC trailed 54-56 at the half and won the second half 64-61. Joe was the night's best plus/minus at +12.
12/18 vs MEM 116-97 — OKC notes
OKC won 116-97. OKC shot 46% (42 of 92) to MEM's 35%, 11 of 36 from three. OKC turned it over 12 times to MEM's 22. Gilgeous-Alexander led with 30 (8 of 18, 1 of 3 from three, 13 of 14 at the line); Holmgren added 17, Giddey 16. The hinge was Q3, 26-13: a lead of 15 became 28, and the lead reached 31. Gilgeous-Alexander was the night's best plus/minus at +30.
12/21 vs LAC 134-115 — OKC notes
OKC won 134-115. OKC shot 59% (51 of 87) to LAC's 47%, 16 of 34 from three, and went to the line 18 times to LAC's 12 — 16 points from the stripe to their 10. Gilgeous-Alexander led with 31 (11 of 25, 1 of 6 from three, 8 of 9 at the line); Holmgren added 23, Dort 21. The hinge was Q3, 45-33: a lead of 5 became 17, and the lead reached 20. Jal. Williams was the night's best plus/minus at +24.
12/23 vs LAL — I Know, the desk before tip-off
Written before tip-off, from the five games each side brought in.
OKC comes in 4-1 over its last five, scoring 125 a night and allowing 115, shooting 50 percent and 38 from three, 23 free throws a game; Gilgeous-Alexander at 32 and Holmgren at 17 a game. That is 3 straight wins. One day's rest. The Lakers come in 1-4 over their last five, scoring 113 a night and allowing 121, shooting 48 percent and 35 from three, 19 free throws a game; Davis at 30 and James at 24 a game. That is 4 straight losses. They have lost the glass by 5 a night. One day's rest.
So: OKC wins, in a game with no one edge to lean on. Call it OKC 121, the Lakers 113.
12/26 vs MIN — I Know, the desk before tip-off
Written before tip-off, from the five games each side brought in.
OKC comes in 3-2 over its last five, scoring 122 a night and allowing 117, shooting 49 percent and 35 from three, 23 free throws a game; Gilgeous-Alexander at 33 and Holmgren at 18 a game. 2 days' rest. Minnesota comes in 4-1 over its last five, scoring 116 a night and allowing 111, shooting 51 percent and 41 from three, 20 free throws a game; Edwards at 31 and Towns at 26 a game. 2 days' rest.
So: OKC wins, and the game turns on the arc, Minnesota at 41 percent from three to OKC's 35 and the turnovers, Minnesota giving it away 14 times a game to OKC's 11. Call it OKC 116, Minnesota 114, Minnesota keeping it close.
12/27 vs NYK — I Know, the desk before tip-off
Written before tip-off, from the five games each side brought in.
OKC comes in 4-1 over its last five, scoring 123 a night and allowing 113, shooting 53 percent and 38 from three, 21 free throws a game; Gilgeous-Alexander at 31 and Holmgren at 19 a game. Second night of a back-to-back. New York comes in 3-2 over its last five, scoring 119 a night and allowing 121, shooting 48 percent and 33 from three, 24 free throws a game; Brunson at 28 and Randle at 25 a game. Without Robinson (8 straight). One day's rest.
So: OKC wins, and the game turns on the defense, OKC allowing 113 a night to New York's 121 and the arc, OKC at 38 percent from three to New York's 33. Call it OKC 120, New York 115.
12/29 @ DEN — I Know, the desk before tip-off
Written before tip-off, from the five games each side brought in.
Denver comes in 5-0 over its last five, scoring 120 a night and allowing 107, shooting 50 percent and 42 from three, 18 free throws a game; Jokić at 26 and Murray at 25 a game. That is 5 straight wins. It has won the glass by 5 a night. Second night of a back-to-back. OKC comes in 4-1 over its last five, scoring 126 a night and allowing 113, shooting 53 percent and 40 from three, 20 free throws a game; Gilgeous-Alexander at 33 and Jal. Williams at 22 a game. One day's rest.
So: Denver wins, and the game turns on the glass, where Denver has been plus-5 a night and OKC minus-3 and the defense, Denver allowing 107 a night to OKC's 113. Call it Denver 117, OKC 116, OKC keeping it close.
12/14 vs GSW 121-113 — LAC notes
LAC won 121-113. LAC shot 51% (41 of 81) to GSW's 43%, 13 of 32 from three, and went to the line 30 times to GSW's 19 — 26 points from the stripe to their 17. Harden led with 28 (6 of 12, 5 of 6 from three, 11 of 12 at the line); Leonard added 27, Powell 21. The hinge was Q2, 40-28: a lead of 1 became 13, and the lead reached 16. Powell was the night's best plus/minus at +20.
12/16 vs NYK 144-122 — LAC notes
LAC won 144-122. LAC shot 57% (50 of 88) to NYK's 47%, 16 of 33 from three, and went to the line 34 times to NYK's 26 — 28 points from the stripe to their 23. Leonard led with 36 (12 of 16, 5 of 6 from three, 7 of 7 at the line); George added 25, Powell 16. The hinge was Q2, 42-33: a lead of 2 became 11, and the lead reached 32. Zubac was the night's best plus/minus at +29.
12/18 @ IND 151-127 — LAC notes
LAC won 151-127. LAC shot 57% (56 of 98) to IND's 52%, 19 of 38 from three. The glass went 46-34 for them. Harden led with 35 (12 of 16, 8 of 11 from three); Leonard added 28, George 27. The hinge was Q2, 40-28: LAC came in trailing by 1 and left it ahead by 11, and the lead reached 33. Harden was the night's best plus/minus at +32.
12/20 @ DAL 120-111 — LAC notes
LAC won 120-111. LAC shot 56% (43 of 77) to DAL's 43%, 11 of 31 from three. LAC turned it over 12 times to DAL's 6, and DAL turned those into 8 steals. Leonard led with 30 (12 of 22, 1 of 6 from three); N. Powell added 21, Harden 17. The hinge was Q1, 35-22: from level to 13 ahead, and the lead reached 22. N. Powell was the night's best plus/minus at +16.
12/21 @ OKC 115-134 — LAC notes
LAC lost 115-134. LAC shot 47% (44 of 93) to OKC's 59%, 17 of 43 from three, and got to the line just 12 times against 18 fouls committed. Harden led with 23 (7 of 18, 4 of 9 from three, 5 of 6 at the line); George added 22, Powell 16. Q2 was theirs, 30-29, the deficit cut from 6 to 5, but the other 3 periods went 105-85 against them. Mann's -31 in 24 minutes was the worst on the floor.
12/23 vs BOS — I Know, the desk before tip-off
Written before tip-off, from the five games each side brought in.
The Clippers come in 4-1 over their last five, scoring 130 a night and allowing 121, shooting 54 percent and 43 from three, 25 free throws a game; Leonard at 30 and George at 25 a game. They have won the glass by 4 a night. Without Tucker (12 straight). One day's rest. Boston comes in 4-1 over its last five, scoring 126 a night and allowing 113, shooting 49 percent and 41 from three, 18 free throws a game; Brown at 25 and Tatum at 24 a game. 2 days' rest.
So: The Clippers win, and the game turns on the line, where the Clippers take 25 free throws a game to Boston's 18 and the defense, Boston allowing 113 a night to the Clippers' 121. Call it the Clippers 119, Boston 118, Boston keeping it close.
12/26 vs CHA — I Know, the desk before tip-off
Written before tip-off, from the five games each side brought in.
The Clippers come in 3-2 over their last five, scoring 128 a night and allowing 128, shooting 53 percent and 41 from three, 22 free throws a game; Leonard at 31 and George at 24 a game. Without Leonard (2 straight), Tucker (13 straight). 2 days' rest. Charlotte comes in 0-5 over its last five, scoring 99 a night and allowing 121, shooting 42 percent and 25 from three, 17 free throws a game; Rozier at 21 and Bridges at 19 a game. That is 5 straight losses. It has lost the glass by 7 a night. Without Ball (12 straight). 2 days' rest.
So: The Clippers win, and the game turns on the arc, the Clippers at 41 percent from three to Charlotte's 25 and the glass, where the Clippers have been plus-2 a night and Charlotte minus-7. Call it the Clippers 123, Charlotte 111, the Clippers by 12.
12/29 vs MEM — I Know, the desk before tip-off
Written before tip-off, from the five games each side brought in.
The Clippers come in 3-2 over their last five, scoring 121 a night and allowing 124, shooting 51 percent and 40 from three, 20 free throws a game; George at 24 and Harden at 24 a game. Without Leonard (3 straight), Tucker (14 straight). 2 days' rest. Memphis comes in 4-1 over its last five, scoring 115 a night and allowing 118, shooting 48 percent and 34 from three, 26 free throws a game; Morant at 29 and Bane at 28 a game. Without Jackson (5 straight), Kennard (19 straight), LaRavia (5 straight). Second night of a back-to-back.
So: The Clippers win, and the game turns on the arc, the Clippers at 40 percent from three to Memphis's 34 and the line, where Memphis takes 26 free throws a game to the Clippers' 20. Call it the Clippers 119, Memphis 113.
1/01 vs MIA — I Know, the desk before tip-off
Written before tip-off, from the five games each side brought in.
The Clippers come in 3-2 over their last five, scoring 115 a night and allowing 120, shooting 49 percent and 35 from three, 20 free throws a game; George at 23 and Harden at 20 a game. Without Leonard (4 straight), Tucker (15 straight). 2 days' rest. Miami comes in 4-1 over its last five, scoring 116 a night and allowing 110, shooting 47 percent and 39 from three, 30 free throws a game; Herro at 26 and Adebayo at 21 a game. Without Martin (2 straight), Lowry (2 straight), Richardson (3 straight). One day's rest.
So: The Clippers win, and the game turns on the line, where Miami takes 30 free throws a game to the Clippers' 20 and the defense, Miami allowing 110 a night to the Clippers' 120. Call it the Clippers 115, Miami 114, Miami keeping it close.
Who is who
the initials in the Players column
OKCAW A. Wiggins
CH C. Holmgren
CW C. Wallace
IJ I. Joe
JG J. Giddey
JW J. Williams
JW Jal. Williams
JW Jay. Williams
KW K. Williams
LD L. Dort
OD O. Dieng
SG S. Gilgeous-Alexander
LACAC A. Coffey
BB B. Boston
BH B. Hyland
BJ Boston Jr.
DT D. Theis
IZ I. Zubac
JH J. Harden
KB K. Brown
NP N. Powell
PG P. George
RW R. Westbrook
TM T. Mann
OKC/LAC the team itself, not a player
-- the feed named nobody
What
What happened
the codes in the Events column
M2 / M3 made 2 / made 3
X2 / X3 missed 2 / missed 3
FT / X1 free throw made / missed
AST assist
OR / DR offensive / defensive rebound
STL steal
BLK block
TO turnover
FL foul
OF offensive foul — ends the possession
VIOL violation
JUMP jump ball
TM timeout
IR instant replay
HE heave at the buzzer, filed to the team
END the clock ran out, ball in hand
Where
Where a shot came from
the middle field of M3.LW.25
RM at the rim inside 4 ft
RC right corner
RW right wing
SO straight on
LW left wing
LC left corner
M3.LW.25 made 3, left wing, 25 ft
X2.RM.01 missed 2, at the rim, 1 ft
When
When it happened
the Offset column
one number per event, in the Events order:
whole seconds from the start of the
possession to that event
Events FL X3.RC.23 OR M2.RM.01
Offset 0 18 22 24
the foul opens the possession at 0s;
the putback ends it at 24s, which is
the possession's own Dur
Gilgeous-Alexander scores 31, Holmgren has highlight dunk as Thunder end Clippers' 9-game win streak
OKLAHOMA CITY -- — Shai Gilgeous-Alexander scored 31 points, Chet Holmgren gave Oklahoma City the lead for good with a dunk he threw off the backboard to himself , and the Thunder beat the Clippers 134-115 on Thursday night, ending Los Angeles' nine-game winning streak.
With Oklahoma City trailing by a point in the third quarter, Holmgren pump-faked Ivica Zubac at the free-throw line, then caught his own lob and threw down a two-handed jam.
“I don’t know where it came from, really, honestly,” Holmgren said. “That was like an at-the-park move ... I guess it just happened.”
Gilgeous-Alexander was impressed.
“He’s 7 feet, so he’d better have that in him,” Gilgeous-Alexander said. “I didn’t expect him to do it. I thought he was just going to step through and shoot. But it was tough.”
Holmgren's play sparked a 13-0 run, and Oklahoma City led by double digits the rest of the way.
Holmgren finished with 23 points and Lu Dort added 21 for the Thunder, who shot 58.6% from the field to win for the fifth time in six games.
Oklahoma City (18-8), which is second place in the Western Conference standings, began its current three-game winning streak with a victory at defending champion Denver. Now, the Thunder have knocked off one of the more star-studded teams in the league.
“Obviously, they’re a super talented group," Gilgeous-Alexander said. “A bunch Hall of Famers over there, and we knew what the task was waking up this morning.”
James Harden scored 23 points and Paul George added 22 for the Clippers, who hadn't lost since falling at Golden State on Nov. 30.
Los Angeles forward Kawhi Leonard was out with a bruised right hip. The Clippers played at Dallas a night earlier.
“They did a good job of just attacking us," Clippers coach Tyronn Lue said. "We couldn’t get back, we couldn’t get set, we couldn’t get matched, and they took advantage of that early.”
Former Thunder star Russell Westbrook got a standing ovation and was cheered loudly while entering the game as a reserve for the Clippers with 6:51 remaining in the first quarter. He finished with 15 points and 13 rebounds.
Harden hit a 3-pointer early in the third quarter to put the Clippers ahead for the first time, 70-69. Holmgren responded with a 3. LA took its only other lead before Holmgren's dunk with 8:43 left in the third. Oklahoma City was ahead 109-92 to start the fourth.
Gilgeous-Alexander’s steal and two-handed dunk over Daniel Theis put the Thunder ahead 123-104 with just under five minutes remaining.
Thunder guard Josh Giddey fell hard late in the second quarter and left the game with a sprained left ankle. He did not return. Giddey scored 11 points on 4-of-5 shooting.
Harden made just one of his first 10 shots, but he turned it around late in the first half to help the Clippers trim a 14-point deficit to 64-59 at the break. He made his final three field goals in the half and had 11 points at halftime.