Clippers’ Austin Rivers put on a show in loss to Thunder

Kevin Durant eased his way to the scorer’s table during a timeout in the third quarter of the Thunder’s game Thursday night against the outmanned Clippers and plopped his 6-foot-9 frame down on the black padding.

Durant looked at the officials in charge of the statistics with bewilderment on his face. “How many threes does Austin have?” Durant asked about Clippers guard Austin Rivers.

They all replied, “Six!”

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Durant smiled and shook his head before he headed back onto the court.

Rivers had gotten the attention of Durant, everyone inside of Chesapeake Energy Arena and a national television audience with his otherworldly long-distance shooting.

By the game’s end Rivers had made a career-high seven of nine three-point shots on the way to his career-high 32 points in the Clippers’ 119-117 loss. It was a game no one expected to be close because the Clippers were so short-handed.

“Yeah, it’s just playing,” Rivers said after the game. “My whole focus is coming in every game and competing. Come in, compete. Come in, compete.”

Rivers was in this position because he started at point guard instead of Chris Paul, who was home in Los Angeles resting.

J.J. Redick and DeAndre Jordan also were sent home to rest. Paul Pierce was back in L.A. recovering from an injured right ankle and right knee and Blake Griffin was serving the final game of his four-game suspension for punching a Clippers assistant equipment manager.

With the exception of Pierce, all of the absent Clippers are expected to play Sunday afternoon against the Washington Wizards at Staples Center.

But before the Clippers left Oklahoma City, there was nothing but praise for the performance by Rivers.

“He was spectacular,” said Jamal Crawford, who also had 32 points against the Thunder. “He really was. He made play after play. He read the defense. He did a great job. He competed. He really did.”

Playoff tickets

The Clippers will begin selling playoff tickets Monday at 10 a.m. The team announced that fans can buy up to six tickets each for the possible four first-round playoff games at Staples Center. Fans can also purchase tickets for second-round home games. The tickets can be bought at www.clippers.com, www.axs.com, the Staples Center box office or by calling 888-929-7849.

Etc.

The Clippers and Prime Ticket will honor longtime play-by-announcer Ralph Lawler with a special Ralph Lawler Day Sunday when the team hosts the Wizards. Lawler is in his 37th year with the Clippers.

Follow Broderick Turner on Twitter @BA_Turner