Thunder vs. Clippers takeaways: Kawhi Leonard leads LA past Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, OKC

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LOS ANGELES — Kawhi Leonard redeemed himself.

After being stymied by Lu Dort on Tuesday night, Leonard made sure the second game of the mini series never got to that point.

Leonard was near-perfect in the Clippers’ 127-105 win against the Thunder on Thursday at Crypto.com Arena.

Leonard scored 32 points on 13-of-15 shooting. He was 3-of-4 from 3-point range and a maestro from the midrange. Leonard made his first seven shots.

“He was comfortable pretty much all night,” Thunder star Shai Gilgeous-Alexander said.

It was the type of performance the Clippers are going to need to keep pace in the playoff race with Paul George out.

“Obviously he’s Kawhi, so he hit some tough shots,” said rookie guard Jalen Williams, who defended Leonard for chunks of the game. “You kinda gotta go with that and keep making it difficult for him.”

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LA Clippers center Ivica Zubac, left, and Oklahoma City Thunder guard Shai Gilgeous-Alexander go after a loose ball during the first half of an NBA basketball game Thursday, March 23, 2023, in Los Angeles. (AP Photo/Mark J. Terrill)
LA Clippers center Ivica Zubac, left, and Oklahoma City Thunder guard Shai Gilgeous-Alexander go after a loose ball during the first half of an NBA basketball game Thursday, March 23, 2023, in Los Angeles. (AP Photo/Mark J. Terrill)

Clippers reverse 3-point fortunes

Thunder coach Mark Daigneault talks a lot about 3-point variance.

The game, competitive for a half, got out of hand fast thanks to the three-ball.

The Clippers shot 18-of-37 (49%) from three overall, including 7-of-11 in the fourth quarter. LA outscored OKC 35-25 in the fourth quarter.

The Clippers shot 6-of-31 (19%) from three Tuesday night against the Thunder.

Did LA get better looks Thursday? Was the Thunder’s defense worse? Or is it just the volatile nature of 3-point shooting.

“Variance is always a part of the deal, but I just thought our attention to detail and physicality in the first half, and then in the third quarter, just wasn’t where it needed to be to go take a win on the road against a really hungry team,” Daigneault said.

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Clippers forward Kawhi Leonard (2) knocks the ball from Thunder forward Ousmane Dieng (13) as he goes up for a shot in the second half at Crypto.com Arena on Thursday in Los Angeles.
Clippers forward Kawhi Leonard (2) knocks the ball from Thunder forward Ousmane Dieng (13) as he goes up for a shot in the second half at Crypto.com Arena on Thursday in Los Angeles.

OKC’s ‘Big Three’ 

Shai Gilgeous-Alexander strolled to the scorer’s table midway through the fourth quarter, but Daigneault turned SGA around.

The Thunder was getting steamrolled, and there was no need to throw Gilgeous-Alexander back out there on the first night of a back-to-back.

SGA, by the way, is expected to play Friday against the Lakers after sitting on the second night of the Thunder’s last two back-to-backs while nursing his abdominal strain.

“If I feel like how I feel right now, for sure,” he said after the game. “I’ve woken up before and not felt good, so hopefully I feel as good as I feel right now.”

SGA was excellent in his 27 minutes, scoring 30 points on 10-of-15 shooting. He was 9-of-9 from the free throw line.

Gilgeous-Alexander, Josh Giddey and Jalen Williams all had good nights, accounting for 64 of the Thunder’s 105 points. They were the only three Thunder players who had double-digit scoring nights.

Giddey had 18 points, four assists and three rebounds. He shot 2-of-5 from 3-point range.

Williams had 16 points, four assists and three rebounds. He was relentless in attacking the rim, and when the Clippers sold out on the drive, Williams made them pay by going 2-of-4 from deep.

“I have a hand-down, man-down mentality,” Williams said. “I didn’t shoot the ball really well at the beginning of the year with my eye, mask, getting a feel for the NBA game, but it didn’t deter anything.”

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Oklahoma City Thunder guard Josh Giddey, right, shoots as LA Clippers guard Russell Westbrook defends during the first half of an NBA basketball game Thursday, March 23, 2023, in Los Angeles. (AP Photo/Mark J. Terrill)
Oklahoma City Thunder guard Josh Giddey, right, shoots as LA Clippers guard Russell Westbrook defends during the first half of an NBA basketball game Thursday, March 23, 2023, in Los Angeles. (AP Photo/Mark J. Terrill)

Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, Russell Westbrook similar competitors

Aside from being two of the three Thunder franchise icons, Shai Gilgeous-Alexander and Russell Westbrook don’t have a lot in common.

SGA is a friendly Canadian and Russell Westbrook, well, isn’t. SGA varies speeds, Westbrook has one speed. Westbrook is a fireball and SGA is a silent killer.

But there are a couple of commonalities. They’ve both graced the pages of GQ, and they’re both competitive. Ultra competitive.

When Mark Daigneault was asked before tip-off Thursday if Gilgeous-Alexander likes playing his former Clippers club, Daigneault compared Gilgeous-Alexander to Westbrook, the current Clipper.

“The greatest strength Westbrook has, in my opinion, is he does not discriminate in a competitive environment,” Daigneault said. “It does not matter who he’s playing against. There’s no external motivation there. He is to a level, and he’s playing a certain way every night.

“Shai has a much different temperament, and is a much different person, but it’s the same thing. There’s never a night where I’m like, Shai doesn’t have it tonight, or Shai’s not on tonight. He’s developed that. I don’t notice it against the Clippers, because the same stuff he’s doing against the Clippers is what he’s doing every night.”

Westbrook committed a hard foul on Gilgeous-Alexander five minutes into the game, but there was a lighthearted moment between the two in the third quarter. Westbrook felt Gilgeous-Alexander on his back, baiting SGA into contact on an and-one jumper.

Westbrook and Gilgeous-Alexander shared smiles along with Westbrook’s brother, Ray, who sat courtside.

It was a big play, tying the game 68-68 midway through the third quarter.

“He’s one of the best competitors to ever play the game,” Gilgeous-Alexander said of Westbrook. “Every time you play against him, you’ve gotta suit up because he’s gonna come at you.”

Westbrook played well against his old team, scoring 24 points and dishing seven assists.

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Mar 21, 2023; Los Angeles, California, USA; LA Clippers guard Russell Westbrook (0) is defended by Oklahoma City Thunder guard Shai Gilgeous-Alexander (left) in the first half at Crypto.com Arena. Mandatory Credit: Kirby Lee-USA TODAY Sports
Mar 21, 2023; Los Angeles, California, USA; LA Clippers guard Russell Westbrook (0) is defended by Oklahoma City Thunder guard Shai Gilgeous-Alexander (left) in the first half at Crypto.com Arena. Mandatory Credit: Kirby Lee-USA TODAY Sports

Aleksej Pokusevski set to rejoin Thunder

Aleksej Pokusevski will join the Thunder at some point on this road trip, perhaps as early as Friday night in Los Angeles, Daigneault said.

Pokusevski was with the G League Blue on Thursday night for its season finale against the G League Ignite in Henderson, Nevada.

Pokusevski, who’s made 25 starts for the Thunder, hasn’t played for the Thunder since suffering a left leg fracture on Dec. 27.

The third-year big man has been on a rehab assignment with the Blue.

Because Pokusevski’s leg injury prohibited him from conditioning, Daigneault said Pokusevski is still building toward playing shape.

“He’s returned to playing, but he’s not returned to performance, meaning we’re not expecting him to be at his peak right now,” Daigneault said.

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Thunder tip-ins

● Terance Mann’s second technical from Tuesday night was rescinded, the NBA announced Thursday. The Clippers guard was ejected after picking up his second technical.

● Eric Gordon started in place of Paul George, who suffered a knee injury Tuesday.

● Mark Daigneault’s UConn Huskies are Elite Eight bound after crushing Arkansas on Thursday. Sad news for Razorbacks Jaylin Williams and Isaiah Joe.

● Dario Saric, Jeremiah Robinson and Tre Mann, none of whom played Tuesday, all got playing time Thursday.

● Mann shot 2-of-6 and Robinson-Earl went 2-of-5. Both sophomores need to get to the offseason to regroup. Neither are likely to be part of the Thunder’s postseason rotation, if there is a Thunder postseason.

● OKC held LA to 18 points in the second quarter — tying the lowest second-quarter score by a Thunder opponent this season.

● It was not a good offensive game for Lu Dort. He shot 1-of-11 with more than a few head-scratching attempts.

● The Clippers’ bench outscored the Thunder’s bench 51-30. Mann, Bones Hyland and Nicolas Batum combined to shoot 10-of-23 from three.

● The Thunder only attempted 11 free throws — nine by SGA and two by Jaylin Williams.

● Isaiah Joe exited in the first half with a lip laceration. He returned in the second half.

● Joe shot 0-of-4 from 3-point range, ending a 29-game streak of at least one 3-pointer.

● Shai Gilgeous-Alexander wore a bolo tie and cowboy boots into and out of the arena. Quite a look.

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Where is Thunder in NBA playoff picture

It’s a wild, wild West.

The Thunder is one of four teams at 36-37.

The seventh-place Timberwolves and 12th place Jazz are separated by a single game.

The loss dropped OKC to 11th in the West, on the outside looking in at the play-in. Just for the moment, though.

This article originally appeared on Oklahoman: OKC Thunder loses to LA Clippers, Kawhi Leonard to fall under .500