Five takeaways from the Clippers’ 112-101 Game 2 loss to the Thunder

Here are five takeaways from the Clippers’ 112-101 loss to the Oklahoma City Thunder on Wednesday night at Chesapeake Energy Arena in Game 2 of the Western Conference semifinals that evened the series at one game apiece:

1. This outcome was entirely predictable. The script called for Kevin Durant to go wild one day after an emotionally drenched celebration of his first most valuable player award, and that’s exactly what happened. Durant scored 32 points and finished one assist short of a triple-double. The teammates singled out by Durant during his MVP acceptance speech also responded with intensity and focus that was missing in their Game 1 defeat, particularly Russell Westbrook, who scored 31 points and collected a triple-double.

2. DeAndre Jordan’s disappearing act hurt the Clippers. The center who was arguably his team’s most important player in the first round did not have much of a defensive presence in Game 2, finishing without a blocked shot. He also had only eight rebounds after notching double digits in that category in five of his first eight playoff games this season. Jordan will need to have a much bigger impact for the Clippers to win this series, particularly since they have been out-rebounded, 99-67, in the first two games.

3. The Thunder won the battle of the wild cards. Thabo Sefolosha and Kendrick Perkins, non-factors in the series opener, were quite productive in Game 2. Sefolosha had 14 points on six-for-nine shooting as well as three steals. Perkins had eight points and nine rebounds while irritating the Clippers with his physical play. J.J. Redick had a step-up performance for the Clippers with 18 points but did most of his scoring in the first half, getting two points after halftime.

4. Steven Adams is becoming a major nuisance for the Clippers. It’s obvious that tensions are escalating between the Thunder rookie and Clippers forward Blake Griffin, who contended Adams was holding him during a testy exchange in the second half. Adams also knocked over Clippers guard Chris Paul, earning a technical foul, after getting pump-faked into the air and landing on top of him in the second half.

5. The Clippers still have to feel good about the boost their second unit is giving them. The Clippers reserves have outscored their Thunder counterparts, 71-44, in the series. Oklahoma City’s reserves have no reliable scorer and seemingly no one who can defend the Clippers’ Jamal Crawford, who has repeatedly embarrassed Derek Fisher with his moves. The Clippers’ Darren Collison has also been effective at getting to the basket, even against the Thunder’s first-team players. This advantage could prove decisive for the Clippers as the series progresses.