Los Angeles @ Oklahoma City preview

Last Meeting ( Nov 18, 2019 ) Oklahoma City 88, L.A. Clippers 90

The Oklahoma City Thunder look to continue their climb up the standings in the Western Conference as they go for a fourth straight victory Sunday night when the Los Angeles Clippers pay a visit. The Thunder started the season 5-10, but have won nine of 13 since and captured the first three contests on a five-game homestand while averaging just over 120 points after Friday’s 126-108 triumph against Phoenix.

“We’re getting more comfortable with one another,” Oklahoma City coach Billy Donovan told NBA.com after the latest win. “We’re understanding each other’s strengths. The communication has been very good. I think the understanding of each guy’s abilities is better and they’re trying to play in a way that they’re trying to make the game easy for one another.” The Thunder dropped a 90-88 decision at Los Angeles while shooting 37.3 percent from field Nov. 18, but have won five straight meetings at home against the Clippers entering Sunday’s matchup. Los Angeles rebounded from a home loss to Houston when it opened a three-game road trip with a 134-109 rout of San Antonio on Saturday as Kawhi Leonard led three players with at least 20 points by pouring in 26 in 27 minutes. Paul George, who came to the Clippers in a deal with the Thunder in the offseason, had only 11 points Saturday on 4-of-11 from the field in 26 minutes after averaging 32.8 over his previous four contests.

TV: 7 p.m. ET, NBATV, Prime Ticket (Los Angeles), FS Oklahoma (Oklahoma City)

ABOUT THE CLIPPERS (22-9): Leonard is normally rested for one end of a back-to-back, but after playing limited minutes perhaps the star swingman may give it a go Sunday as he is averaging 28.3 points over his last six games. Power forward Montrezl Harrell, who is averaging 21.3 points over his last four games, dropped in 21 on Saturday and led the way for Los Angeles in the win over the Thunder last month with 28 points and 12 boards. George had 18 points in his first matchup against the Thunder this season with Leonard out of the lineup and super sub Lou Williams, who scored 20 against the Spurs on Saturday, added 11.

ABOUT THE THUNDER (14-14): Guard Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, who came over in the George trade from the Clippers scored a career-high 32 points against Phoenix and leads the team in scoring (18.6). “A lot of shots just went in tonight, honestly,” Gilgeous-Alexander told reporters. “I get those shots a lot of nights, they went in more often tonight, but that’s a testament to the work I put in everyday.” Forward Danilo Gallinari is averaging 21.3 points over the past three contests to push his season mark to 18.0 while guard Dennis Schroder (17.8) has scored 23.8 per game in his past four outings.

BUZZER BEATERS

1. Los Angeles C Ivica Zubac scored 15 points Saturday, one shy of his season high.

2. Oklahoma City PG Chris Paul (16.2 points, team-high 6.3 assists) scored 22 in the loss to his former team Nov. 18.

3. Clippers F Maurice Harkless recorded 15 points after coming up scoreless in 39 minutes the past two games.

PREDICTION: Thunder 115, Clippers 106