No Chet Holmgren, no problem for the Oklahoma City Thunder.
Shai Gilgeous-Alexander scored 21 of his season-high 45 points in the first half and the Thunder fended off a gutsy Clippers squad, 134-131, to occupy the solo top spot in the West anew on Tuesday, November 12 (PH Time).
SGA added nine rebounds, a season-high five steals, and two blocks in while going 15-of-16 from the free throw line as OKC got back to the winning track quickly.
Dirty dancing 🕺
— OKC THUNDER (@okcthunder) November 12, 2024
Jalen Williams added 28 markers while Lu Dort chipped 19 as the Thunder (9-2), who are already without big man Isaiah Hartenstein (left hand fracture) even before Holmgren went down, improved to 5-1 at home.
Lu Dort sinks two-straight triples out of the break 🔥
— NBA TV (@NBATV) November 12, 2024
Clippers-Thunder second half is on NOW!
OKC confirmed that Holmgren will miss at least eight to 10 weeks after sustaining a right iliac wing fracture in the Thunder’s 127-116 loss against Golden State Warriors yesterday, November 11.
[ALSO READ: Curry goes for 36 as Warriors hold off Thunder to share best record in the West]
He took a bad fall when contesting an Andrew Wiggins layup in the opening frame of the game and was in noticeable pain afterwards. Before the unfortunate injury, Holmgren was averaging 16.4 points, 8.7 rebounds, and 2.6 blocks this season.
Chet Holmgren had to be helped off the floor after a hard fall 🙏
— Bleacher Report (@BleacherReport) November 11, 2024
Oklahoma City led by as many as 20 in the third quarter before the Clippers pulled to as close as five points entering the fourth off a Norman Powell triple, 99-94.
Norm Powell knocks it down at the horn for 17 PTS in the quarter 😳
— NBA TV (@NBATV) November 12, 2024
In a thrilling finish, Ivica Zubac completed a three-point play to nudge the Clippers to within three points, 130-128. SGA responded by hitting two clutch free throws to make it 132-128.
The next ensuing possession saw Dort forced James Harden to a jump-ball situation which the OKC won and iced the game off a Williams slam after the Clips failed to foul.
JALEN WILLIAMS SLAMS THE DOOR.
— NBA (@NBA) November 12, 2024
OKC WINS A THRILLER.
Despite being undersized, the Thunder clamped down on the defensive end against the Clippers, forcing them to commit 24 turnovers in the first two quarters while also tallying 16 steals.
On the other hand, Norman Powell led the charge for the Clippers with 31 points spiked on five threes, including 29 in the second half, but he fouled out with 1:32 ticks left.
James Harden put up a near-triple double of 17 markers, 11 rebounds, and nine assists while Zubac had a 22-point, 14-rebound performance. Derrick Jones Jr. added 23. LA now slipped to 6-5 and suffered its first road loss of the season.
Despite hitting more threes (21) and outrebounding the Thunder, 47-29, the Clipped failed to complete the comeback.
Up next for the Clips are the Houston Rockets while the Thunder continue their four-game home stand against the Zion Williamson-less New Orleans Pelicans.
