Five takeaways from the Clippers’ loss to Oklahoma City
Here are some things to take away from the Clippers’ 85-83 loss to the Oklahoma City Thunder on Wednesday night:
1. Marresse Speights came in right away and gave the Clippers a lift when they so desperately needed it in the first quarter.
Speights scored seven of his 14 points in the first quarter. He made all three of his shots in the opening quarter, one of them a three-pointer.
He finished the game with six-for-nine shooting from the field, one of the few Clippers to shoot over 50% from the field. Speights also had four rebounds and two assists.
2. When Blake Griffin picked up two fouls with 7 minutes, 14 seconds left in the first quarter, Clippers Coach Doc Rivers called on seldom-used Brandon Bass.
Before Wednesday night’s game, Bass had played in only one of the Clippers’ three games so far, and for just two minutes.
But Bass played 13:27 and produced five points and four rebounds.
He even made a three-pointer at the buzzer to end the third quarter, giving the Clippers a 66-65 lead.
3. The Clippers were horrible from the free-throw line. They made only 44.4% [eight of 18] of their free throws.
By now, it’s expected to see DeAndre Jordan miss free throws, and he did miss all three of his shots. But Griffin was equally as bad from the line, missing all three of his free throws.
Chris Paul was five of six from the free-throw line, Luc Mbah a Moute made two of four and Speights was one for two.
4. For the first time all season, the Clippers were outrebounded: The Thunder had 52 rebounds, the Clippers 41.
The Clippers gave up 10 offensive rebounds, the last two crucial.
After Russell Westbrook missed a three-pointer, Jamal Crawford was unable to box out Andre Roberson, who got the offensive rebound with 39.2 seconds left and the Thunder clinging to a two-point lead.
Roberson, who was fouled by Crawford, missed both of his free throws.
But Jordan and Griffin, both of whom had inside position, couldn’t get the rebound. It went out of bounds to the Thunder with 38 seconds left.
Westbrook pulled up for a 17-foot jumper to seal the game.
5. The Clippers really aren’t clicking on offense. They shot just 39.1% from the field, just 31.8% from three-point range.
Griffin was four for 21 from the field, J.J. Redick three for 12 and Crawford three for 11.
Twitter: @BA_Turner
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