Oklahoma City lost 113-112 to the Los Angeles Clippers on Friday night, dropping their third straight game as Shai Gilgeous-Alexander missed a late go-ahead shot.
The Thunder fell in close fashion at the end of a grueling week, sliding to a 1-1 record in NBA Cup play. Oklahoma City Thunder On SI reported the details of the matchup, highlighting how the team’s struggles on the defensive end ultimately cost them the contest.
Gilgeous-Alexander shouldered the offensive load for Oklahoma City throughout all four frames. The two-time MVP recorded 40 points on a highly efficient shooting night, bouncing back from difficult outings in two previous games against Portland.
Clippers big man Brook Lopez kept Los Angeles in striking distance by exploiting defensive lapses beyond the arc. Lopez finished the night with 26 points, punishing the Thunder defense repeatedly from long range.
Oklahoma City found themselves facing a double-digit deficit at halftime after converting just two 3-pointers across the entire roster through the first two quarters. Jared McCain shifted the momentum coming out of the break by scoring 17 points in the third quarter alone.
McCain hit five 3-pointers in the third frame, including a buzzer-beater that electrified the arena and helped pull the Thunder back into contention. He finished the game with seven of the team’s 11 total makes from beyond the arc.
Third-year guard Nikola Topic made his long-awaited season debut against the Clippers after recovering from a severe knee injury, a testicular cancer diagnosis, and offseason back surgery. Topic contributed four rebounds, three assists, and two steals in limited action.
The loss damages Oklahoma City's standing in the NBA Cup tournament. The team still has remaining group-play matchups against Minnesota and New Orleans, though their path to the quarterfinals is considerably narrower now.
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