LA Clippers Looking to Rebound, Thunder Dominating the Western Conference
Clippers vs Oklahoma City Thunder
The LA Clippers (19-14) are on the road to face the Oklahoma City Thunder (27-5) on Thursday, January 2, 2025, at the Paycom Center in Oklahoma City. Tip-off is scheduled for 8:00 PM ET. After splitting their two matchups earlier this season, the Clippers look to bounce back from a tough loss, while the Thunder aim to continue their dominance in the Western Conference.
LA Clippers: Looking to Rebound After a Tough Loss
The Clippers come into this game looking to recover from a humiliating 122-86 defeat to the San Antonio Spurs on Tuesday night, which ended their three-game win streak. In the blowout loss, the Clippers were outclassed in nearly every aspect of the game—shooting just 34.5% from the field, including 11-of-41 from three. They also lost the rebounding battle by a significant margin, getting outboarded 58-41. James Harden led LA with 17 points, but it wasn’t nearly enough to counter San Antonio’s offensive efficiency.
This season, the Clippers are 23rd in the league in scoring offense (108.8 PPG) and have struggled to find consistency on that end of the floor. Despite strong individual performances from players like Norman Powell (24.3 PPG) and James Harden (21.9 PPG, 6.1 RPG, 7.8 APG), the Clippers rank just 25th in assists (24.2 per game), highlighting their issues in creating offensive flow. Their field goal percentage of 46.4% ranks 15th in the league, but their struggles with three-point shooting (36.7%, 14th in the league) and free throw shooting (78.3%, 15th) hold them back offensively.
Defensively, however, the Clippers have been strong, ranking 5th in scoring defense (107.8 PPG allowed). They will need their defense to step up again to offset their offensive inefficiencies, especially with Kawhi Leonard still sidelined (knee injury). Leonard has yet to play this season, but he is expected to make his debut soon, which could be a significant boost for the Clippers’ defense and offense.
Oklahoma City Thunder: Continuing to Dominate
The Oklahoma City Thunder enter this game riding a 12-game win streak, having just defeated the Minnesota Timberwolves 113-105 at home. The Thunder’s defensive resilience and offensive firepower have been the main catalysts for their success this season, as they continue to lead the Western Conference with a 27-5 record. In their victory over the Timberwolves, Oklahoma City was outscored by as many as 12 points in the second quarter but rallied in the second half, outscoring Minnesota 43-23 in the third quarter to seize control of the game. Shai Gilgeous-Alexander was sensational, dropping 40 points, while the Thunder shot 47.2% from the field, including 12-of-36 from beyond the arc.
Offensively, Oklahoma City ranks 9th in scoring (115.3 PPG), led by Gilgeous-Alexander, who is averaging 31.3 points, 5.5 rebounds, and 6 assists per game. He has been the focal point of the Thunder’s high-powered attack. The team also benefits from secondary scoring options like Jalen Williams (21 PPG), Chet Holmgren (16.4 PPG, 8.7 RPG), and Aaron Wiggins (8.9 PPG). However, Holmgren is out due to a hip injury, which has been a setback for their frontcourt depth.
On the defensive end, the Thunder are elite, ranking 1st in scoring defense (103.3 PPG allowed). They excel at limiting their opponents’ shooting efficiency, holding them to the 7th-lowest percentage of shots at the rim. They are also top-10 in forcing turnovers and second in free throw defense, which makes it difficult for teams to get easy baskets against them. With Isaiah Hartenstein providing a solid presence on the boards (12.7 PPG, 12.4 RPG), the Thunder can continue to dominate the paint and control the flow of the game.
Conclusion
Oklahoma City’s defensive prowess and offensive depth make them heavy favorites in this game. While the Clippers have a capable roster, their offensive struggles and ongoing injury issues—particularly the absence of Kawhi Leonard—should make it difficult for them to keep up with the high-flying Thunder.
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