Thunder vs. Clippers: Five takeaways from OKC's win against Los Angeles

Thunder history was made Thursday night in Oklahoma City.

For the first time ever, the Thunder entered the fourth quarter with zero free-throw attempts.

“I wasn’t particularly pleased with that,” Thunder coach Mark Daigneault said.

It was a moot point. Who cares about 1-pointers when 3-pointers are falling in bunches?

The Thunder (2-3) beat the Clippers 118-110 at Paycom Center. It was OKC’s second win against LA — presumed NBA title contenders — in three nights.

The Thunder, shooting 27% from 3-point range as a team before Thursday, shot 17-of-38 (45%) from deep against the Clippers. And for the record, OKC shot 7-of-8 from the foul line in the fourth quarter.

Aleksej Pokusevski, who had 15 points and six rebounds, made a pair of clutch 3-pointers in the final five minutes to break the game open. Tre Mann, 4-of-7 from deep in his 14-point night, joined Pokusevski in putting the game away.

More:'One bone': How a Nigerian saying explains Eugene Omoruyi's NBA path to OKC Thunder

It was a memorable game for the mercurial Poku, who also blocked Clippers big man Ivica Zubac in crunch time.

“He’s taken miles of steps in his confidence,” Thunder guard Shai Gilgeous-Alexander said.

“Poku’s getting better every single day,” Lu Dort added.

Daigneault has been sporadic in his rotations, particularly with Pokusevski, but Daigneault trusted the third-year forward to play eight minutes in the fourth quarter.

“I was happy for him,” said Daigneault, who complimented Pokusevski’s playmaking. “He hadn’t played the way he wanted to play the last couple of games, and he kept himself ready.”

As was the case Tuesday night, turnovers (19) doomed the Clippers. OKC outscored LA 31-19 in points off turnovers, and OKC attempted 13 more shots than LA.

Gilgeous-Alexander scored a team-high 24 points despite not starting the second half due to foul trouble. SGA committed four fouls in the first half and didn’t re-enter until midway through the third quarter.

“Obviously I knew why,” Gilgeous-Alexander said. “The group did a great job of stepping up to the challenge and taking control of the game.”

Gilgeous-Alexander, the former Clipper, scored eight points in the decisive fourth quarter.

The Thunder sprinted to an early 30-12 lead Thursday, but that 18-point advantage completely evaporated in the second quarter.

It seemed as though the Clippers were ready to seize control, but the Thunder regrouped and held off the better side yet again.

More:Tramel: OKC Thunder is always looking for an edge when it comes to substitutions

Lu Dort’s efficient night

Dort’s four-game cold spell to start the season was snapped in Game 5.

“I knew that would happen eventually,” Gilgeous-Alexander said. “Lu works so hard. When you work hard and play as hard as he does, good things happen.”

Dort, who entered the game shooting 25.5% from 3-point range, was an efficient 9-of-15 Thursday night against the Clippers. He still struggled from three (1-of-5), but his shot selection and overall decision making was better, Daigneault said.

“I was really impressed by Lu and the poise that he showed and the trust that he showed in the team,” Daigneault said.

Dort was a team-high plus-18 in his 34 minutes.

“My confidence is always going to stay up,” Dort said. “I feel like I worked this hard to be in this position today. Games like that help in general — the team and me.”

More:Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, Thunder beat Clippers for first win of season: 5 takeaways

Paul George plays

Clippers star Paul George (non-COVID illness) was questionable on Thursday after sitting out Tuesday night.

“It’s a different game plan for us if George plays,” Daigneault said before the game.

George played, but his impact was minimal. He scored 10 points on 12 shots, and the Clippers were outscored by 25 points when George was on the floor.

Credit Dort, who did a fine job containing George.

“I watch film a lot on Paul George,” Dort said. “I kind of know his game.”

George, a two-year Thunderman, received a warm welcome in pregame introductions.

Without Kawhi Leonard (right knee soreness) and with a recovering George, it was up to guards Norman Powell and Reggie Jackson to carry the Clippers.

John Wall, who showed flashes of his former self, had 17 points off LA’s bench.

More:Tramel: Old Testament wisdom says this Thunder season is about observing, not judging

L.A.’s long stay in OKC 

The Clippers’ application for temporary residency in Oklahoma City is pending.

The Clippers arrived in OKC on Monday, a day before Game 1 against the Thunder, and they didn’t fly home until after the game Thursday night.

Three days and four nights in Oklahoma City, even in the comfortable confines of the nearby Omni hotel, isn’t every NBA team’s dream.

Clippers coach Ty Lue was asked before the game if he likes two-game sets in the same city — a scheduling quirk to reduce travel.

“Depends on where I’m at,” said Lue, who drew plenty of laughs.

“I think it’s more of a playoff feel, playing the same team twice,” Lue added. “You lose the first game, if you’re a good team, if you think you’re a good team, you’re supposed to come out and make some adjustments and play a better game the next game.”

Daigneault said he likes playing the same opponent twice in a row because it’s a clear way to gauge progress.

“It’s a great opportunity for us to put ourselves in the shoes of the opponent, understanding how they’re coming into the game and rise to that challenge, or not, but we’ll learn something from it either way,” Daigneault said.

More:OKC Thunder: A dive into the numbers of Lu Dort's early-season shooting slump

Thunder tip-ins

➤ Darius Bazley has a special knack for blocking jump shots. He swatted two of them Thursday night.

➤ Mike Muscala was the Thunder’s first man off the bench. He checked in for Jeremiah Robinson-Earl, who picked up two fouls in the first three minutes and change.

➤ Daigneault said rookie guard Jalen Williams (right orbital fracture) should be “back shortly barring any setbacks.”

➤ Point guard Josh Giddey (sprained right ankle) missed his second straight game.

➤ Daigneault was asked about Pokusevski ranking third on the Thunder in free throw attempts. “It’s certainly a progress point,” Daigneault said. “His first year it took him a pregnancy term to get to the free throw line.”

➤ The line drew plenty of laughs. It wasn’t until Poku’s 18th game, three months into the season, when he went to the free throw line for the first time.

➤ Clippers center Ivica Zubac had a career-high 18 rebounds.

More:Here is the OKC Thunder's roster, player contracts entering 2022-23 NBA regular season

Thunder vs. Clippers live updates

A Twitter List by joe_mussatto

This article originally appeared on Oklahoman: Thunder vs Clippers: Five takeaways from OKC's win against Los Angeles