Los Angeles Clippers vs Oklahoma City Thunder Match Player Stats On Nov 10, 2017

The Sports Xchange
Nov 11, 2017

OKLAHOMA CITY -- Paul George struggled to find much of a rhythm in the Oklahoma City Thunder's offense through the early part of the season.

He had little trouble with that Friday night, though, scoring a season-high 42 points in the Thunder's 120-111 win over the Los Angeles Clippers at Chesapeake Energy Arena.

The win snapped a four-game losing streak for Oklahoma City (5-7). The Clippers (5-6) lost for the fourth straight time and the sixth time in seven games.

The night before in Denver, after another game slipped away from the rebuilt Thunder, Oklahoma City held a team meeting.

"It was just good to get everything out on the table," George said in Denver. "Especially where we're at right now, it's no good if we're bottling it all up. Because then we could carry it over to the next game and the next game. Just leave everything out in the open."

Whether or not the Thunder, who added George and Carmelo Anthony in offseason trades, are able to find consistent offensive flow remains to be seen. But, for one night, the results were positive.

Russell Westbrook added 22 points and eight assists, while Anthony scored 14 points.

Lou Williams scored a season-high 35 points to lead the Clippers. Blake Griffin and Austin Rivers added 17 each.

The Clippers trailed by as many as 20 in the third quarter but steadily cut into the deficit throughout the end of the third and early in the fourth.

Rivers tied it, 105-105, with a corner 3-pointer with 5:36 remaining.

But the Thunder responded by pulling away once again, using a pair of quick free throws by first-time starter Dakari Johnson and then with Anthony finishing at the basket after a feed from George, who added seven assists and nine rebounds to go with 13-of-22 shooting.

The assist was just the fourth in clutch time for the Thunder all season.

Oklahoma City shot 51.3 percent.

NOTES: With an assist on Sindarius Thornwell's first-quarter jumper, Clippers F Blake Griffin reached 2,000, making him the sixth-fastest player in NBA history to reach 10,000 points, 4,000 rebounds and 2,000 assists. ... Thunder C Steven Adams missed the game after suffering a right calf contusion late in Thursday's loss at Denver. Dakari Johnson made his first start of the season in Adams' place. ... Clippers G Austin Rivers played a day after suffering a sprained ankle in practice. ... Thunder G Alex Abrines scored 11 points in 13 first-half minutes and finished with 14 points. Abrines hadn't scored more than seven points in a game this season.