Thunder Snap Clippers Streak With 127-117 Victory

By Connor Aylward
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Updated: January 4, 2018

The Los Angeles Clippers entered Thursday night with a four game winning streak. It was up to the talented Oklahoma City Thunder to challenge them on their home court at Staples Center.

As if dealing with players like Russell Westbrook, Paul George and Carmelo Anthony wasn’t enough, Los Angeles found out prior to tip off that guard Austin Rivers would be out for a minimum of two weeks with an achilles injury. The suffering wouldn’t end there for the Clippers however. Starting guard Milos Teodosic left the game in the second quarter walking gingerly. It was revealed during the half that he aggravated a previous injury to his plantar fascia and would be out for the remainder of the game.

The Clippers would need somebody to step up if they were going to have a chance against an improving Thunder squad. DeAndre Jordan stepped into that role early and never seemed to let up. Jordan started quickly with 14 points and 6 rebounds in just the first quarter and never let up. Jordan closed out this game with 26 points to go along with 17 rebounds in what was one of the best games of his entire career.

DeAndre Jordan stuffs the put back down with power!

The @LAClippers big man has a season-high 26 PTS, 16 REB and they lead the @okcthunder 97-94 after 3.

Russ: 19 PTS, 10 REB, 9 AST

Tune in for the 4th quarter on @NBAonTNT pic.twitter.com/poIAVkDq4S

— NBA (@NBA) January 5, 2018

Los Angeles owned the paint early on, thanks to not just Jordan but Blake Griffin. Griffin crashed the boards on both ends of the floor as well as he has all season. Griffin flirted with a triple-double by the time it was all said and done with 24 points, 9 rebounds and 7 assists.

While the Clippers dominated the paint, the Thunder took over the perimeter. George shot an impressive 5-8 from three finishing with a game-high 31 points. Meanwhile his teammates Westbrook and George had 29 and 22 points a piece. Each standing out with their accurate long range shooting.

Despite the effort from Los Angeles, Oklahoma City took control in the fourth quarter and never relented. A 127-117 victory for the Thunder puts an end to an impressive four-game winning streak for the Clippers.

The schedule won’t get any easier for Los Angeles as they take on the Golden State Warriors next on Saturday.

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