Fourth Quarter Saves Clippers, Win Over Thunder

By Connor Aylward
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Updated: March 2, 2016

I have to admit, I started writing this recap at the end of the third quarter and had a whole different story written out before the Clippers proved me wrong and battled back. A team that showed very little effort for three quarters of the game decided the fourth was time to show up and play.

Oklahoma City bullied the Clippers on the board the entire game. Winning the battle 63-45 and when things are that one-sided in something as important as rebounds, it is very difficult to fight back and win. But that’s exactly what happened.

The Thunder saw themselves with a 22 point lead at one point in the game and a 20 point lead at halftime in a game that fully seemed in their control.

The third quarter ended and the story was all about the Clippers lack of production from the small forward position as first time starter for his new club Jeff Green struggled. Shooting 0-7 from the field with 0 points, 2 rebounds and 2 assists in the game as he was filling in for Luc Mbah a Moute who was injured in the team’s last game resulting in an eye laceration.

The fourth quarter told a very different story.

A late run by the Clippers in the fourth would cut the Thunder lead to it’s lowest since early in the first quarter, just 8.

Wes Johnson w/ back-to-back 3’s, and the Clippers are down 8. Johnson just missed making a 3rd one too.

— Dan Woike (@DanWoikeSports) March 3, 2016

That Johnson shooting streak changed everything for the Clippers. Everything started to fall and the team looked like it couldn’t be stopped for the first time on the night. DeAndre Jordan and Johnson really helped the club battle back into the game.

12-2 #Clippers run!

— CaliSports News (@CaliSportsnews) March 3, 2016

That run cut the lead down to just 4 for Oklahoma City and the momentum was very much on the Clipper side. Then Jordan stepped up and got some critical points for the Clippers to give them their first lead of the night with just over one minute remaining.

WHAT A GAME. OKC led by as many as 22 Pts but Clippers now hold a 98-97 lead! Catch the final 1:12 here: https://t.co/FXPdSOGtpA

— NBA on ESPN (@ESPNNBA) March 3, 2016

Los Angeles was able to hold on to that lead and pull off one of the most improbable comebacks I have ever seen as they won 103-98.

17 turnovers committed by the Thunder would end up being a more important stat on the night than the massive rebounding advantage they held.

20 points and 18 rebounds from Jordan give him player of the game honors but Chris Paul was no slouch either with a 21 point and 13 assists performance after having only 4 points in the first half.

Los Angeles will take their three game winning streak against the Atlanta Hawks on Saturday as the Clippers move to 40-20 on the season.

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