Clippers at Thunder
THE STORY: The Oklahoma City Thunder seek to maintain their position
of having the best record in the Western Conference when they host the
Los Angeles Clippers on Wednesday. Oklahoma City has a one-game lead
over the San Antonio Spurs after stringing together back-to-back
victories following its first three-game losing skid of the season. The
Clippers are 1 1/2 games behind the Los Angeles Lakers in the battle for
the Pacific Division lead after losing to the Memphis Grizzlies on
Monday.
TV: 8 p.m. ET, FS Prime Ticket (Los Angeles), FS Oklahoma
ABOUT THE CLIPPERS (34-23):
Forward Blake Griffin had only six rebounds in the loss to Grizzlies
for his second-lowest output of the campaign. Griffin figures to be
highly motivated in his return to his hometown of Oklahoma City after
struggling badly in his visit earlier this season. Griffin scored a
season-low seven points as Los Angeles lost by 23 points. Griffin is
averaging only 7.0 rebounds in two games against the Thunder this
season. Griffin is averaging 22.7 points and 10.2 rebounds in six career
games against Oklahoma City.
ABOUT THE THUNDER (42-15): Guard Russell Westbrook had 26 points in
Monday’s 109-89 victory over the Milwaukee Bucks but the real stars were
guard Thabo Sefolosha and forward Serge Ibaka. Sefolosha scored 14
points but did his real damage on the defensive end, recording a
career-high seven steals and holding Bucks guard Monta Ellis to nine
points on 3-of-12 shooting. “Thabo was all over, he was basically a
one-man wrecking crew,” Thunder coach Scott Brooks said. “He just caused
havoc on the entire defensive end of the floor.” Ibaka blocked five
shots, including four in the opening quarter as Oklahoma City built a
17-point lead.
BUZZER BEATERS:
1. Oklahoma City has won the last three home meetings with the Clippers.
2.
Thunder forward Kevin Durant is averaging 34.0 points in two games
against Los Angeles this season to raise his 16-game career clip against
the Clippers to 27.8.
3. Clippers point guard Chris Paul has 15 steals over the past three games.