Shai Gilgeous-Alexander scores 45 points as OKC Thunder beats Clippers

On November 12, 2024By Littum

Life in the 2024 WC (Without Chet) grabbed the Thunder just seconds into Monday’s game.

The Clippers wasted no time feeding 7-foot, 240-pound center Ivica Zubac. After all, he faced a lineup without a player taller than 6-6.

But OKC wasted no time stripping Zubac. And poke ball after ball, draw offensive foul after another. Life without Chet Holmgren seemed feasible.

Possible. But it wasn’t easy, and grabbed a 134-128 victory down to the last seconds.

OKC forced 23 turnovers. It held Zubac to three shots in the first half. It swarmed, as its small lineups have been known to do.

The Thunder led by as many as 17 at the start of the third quarter.

But for 48 minutes?

It was taxed. A tall order for a short, short-handed team.

Monday’s victory did not come without a glimpse of reality without Holmgren.

Zubac took 10 shots in the second half, nearly tripling his first half output. He dropped, he stretched his wingspan past OKC’s small backline. He remembered who he was. And OKC botched the holes that came with it, as well as the shot-making that was bound to come for the Clippers.

But small ball is a way of life in Smallville, OK. Things eventually came back, with the Thunder just enough trouble for James Harden (17 points, 5-for-15 shooting with five fouls and five turnovers) to put the game in Zubac’s hands.

His hands were too big to thrive in Smallville.

It is amazing that the number is so few. That such a consistently dominant, abrasive, unbeatable scorer had never tallied 45 points before Monday night.

But Shai Gilgeous-Alexander rarely steps outside himself, even if that means he won’t reach 50 (or apparently 45) when he’s hovering near 40.

The Thunder needed every single point he provided on Monday.

All four of his 3-pointers make, this time on eight attempts. All 15 of his free throws, missing just one attempt. Every last probe, every last midrange jumper. Gilgeous-Alexander was “vintage,” as coach Mark Daigneault used to label him postgame: a product, according to Daigneault, of letting the game come to him.

Thunder vs. Clippers live scores updates

What time is Thunder vs. Clippers

Date: Monday, Nov. 11
Time: 7 p.m. CT
Where: Paycom Center in Oklahoma City

TV: FanDuel Sports Network
How to watch online: Fubo (Free Trial)
Radio: WWLS 98.1FM

Thunder vs. Clippers odds

Odds lent by via BetMGM from Monday 11 Nov

Odds: Thunder with 6.5

Above/below: 218.5

Money line: OKC -275 | Los Angeles +220

OKC Thunder roster

Alex Caruso, PG
Ousmane Dieng, SF
Luguentz Dort, SG
Alex Ducas, SG *
Adam Flagler, PG
Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, SG
Isaiah Hartenstein, C
Chet Holmgren, PF
Isaiah Joe, SG
Dillon Jones, SF
Ajay Mitchell, SG *
Alex Reese, PF
Nikola Topić, PG
Cason Wallace, SG
Aaron Wiggins, SG
Jalen Williams, SG
Jaylin Williams, PF
Kenrich Williams, PF

*-two-way contract

OKC Thunder schedule

Friday, November 8: OKC 126, Houston 107

Sunday 10 November: vs. Golden State at 6 p.m. (FanDuel Sports Network)

Monday 11 November: vs. Los Angeles Clippers at 7 p.m. (FanDuel Sports Network and NBA TV)

Wednesday 13 November: vs. New Orleans at 6:30 p.m. (FanDuel Sports Network and ESPN)

Friday, November 15 (NBA Cup game): vs. Phoenix at 7 p.m. (FanDuel Sports Network)

Thunder vs. Clippers highlights

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