Gilgeous-Alexander's Career-High 45 Sinks Clippers

The Thunder survived a ferocious Clippers comeback attempt with timely clutch plays.

Nov 11, 2024; Oklahoma City, Oklahoma, USA; Oklahoma City Thunder guard Shai Gilgeous-Alexander (2) drives to the basket between Los Angeles Clippers guards Norman Powell (24) and James Harden (1) during the second quarter at Paycom Center. Mandatory Credit: Alonzo Adams-Imagn Images / Alonzo Adams-Imagn Images

The Oklahoma City Thunder, on the second night of a back-to-back, beat the LA Clippers by a final score of134-128. Oklahoma City held a 20-point lead in the third quarter and managed to hold on with clutch-time heroics.

Shai Gilgeous-Alexander scored a career-high 45 points on 13-for-21 shooting, 4-for-8 from deep and 15-for-16 at the free-throw line. He added nine assists, five steals and two blocks.

Jalen Williams contributed 28 points on 16 shots, making two of his three 3-point attempts. Eight rebounds battling Clippers center Ivica Zubac, six assists and two steals rounded out his line.

Norman Powell, who entered the night averaging over 25 points per game, racked up 31 points on 10-for-15 shooting and 5-for-8 from downtown. He fouled out on an away-from-the-play hold with 1:32 remaining in the game. The Clippers made 20 of their 37 (54.1%) 3-point attempts.

Factor	Thunder	Clippers
Points	134	128
eFG%	61.5%	67.5%
TOV	11	23
ORB	9	15
FT	22-for-23	20-for-29

In their first game without Chet Holmgren, Oklahoma City opted for a small-ball starting five: Gilgeous-Alexander, Williams, Luguentz Dort, Aaron Wiggins and Isaiah Joe.

The Clippers started James Harden, Powell, Terance Mann, Derrick Jones Jr. and Zubac for the 11th time in as many games.

Williams stripped Zubac on the first possession of the night, leading to a Joe fastbreak layup. He grabbed four defensive rebounds in the first four minutes, helping alleviate the Thunder's rebounding deficiencies.

Gilgeous-Alexander scored or assisted on the first 13 Oklahoma City points, draining a top-of-the-key pull-up triple to provide the Thunder an early nine-point advantage. He finished the quarter with nine points, three assists, two steals and two blocks.

Jones Jr., whose outside shooting helped the Dallas Mavericks eliminate the Thunder in last season's second round, made two right-corner threes to bring the Clippers back into the game. Oklahoma City led 25-24 after the first quarter, with both teams combining for 17-for-46 (37.0%) shooting. The Thunder made five of their 16 3-point attempts in the period.

Cason Wallace stood his ground on a Kevin Porter Jr. post-up attempt, forcing an out-of-bounds turnover right in front of the Thunder bench. Wallace picked up two steals in the first half but went scoreless on five field-goal attempts.

After James Harden made a putback layup with five minutes left in the half to make the score 42-42, Oklahoma City executed a 14-0 run. Gilgeous-Alexander and Wiggins checked back into the game and combined for eight of those points, capped by the former's second triple of the night. Eight Thunder players made a three in the first half, including two each from Gilgeous-Alexander, Joe, Wiggins and Alex Caruso.

Kris Dunn made two wide-open threes just before halftime as Thunder defenders scrambled to recover from double-teaming Harden above the break, but the home team maintained a 66-53 advantage at halftime. The Thunder's small ball held LA to 9-for-21 inside the arc and forced 15 turnovers in the first half — five Clippers recorded multiple, including four from Zubac.

Williams tallied a made elbow jumper, steal and breakaway dunk within 30 second-half seconds. Dort drained back-to-back 3-pointers to offset hot Clippers outside shooting. The Thunder's double-digit lead expanded to 20 midway through the quarter with a signature Gilgeous-Alexander pull-up mid-range shot.

The remaining six minutes belonged to LA. Powell, who scored two first-half points without a field goal, racked up 18 in the third quarter. He made three layups and three 3-pointers, including a fadeaway right-corner triple over an outstretched Williams as the quarter buzzer expired. Oklahoma City led 99-94 with 12 minutes left in the game.

The Thunder take on the New Orleans Pelicans this Wednesday, Nov. 13 at 6:30 p.m. CST. That game will be the third of a six-game homestand.

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