Los Angeles @ Oklahoma City preview

Last Meeting ( Jan 4, 2018 ) Oklahoma City 127, L.A. Clippers 117

The status of Oklahoma City All-Star small forward Paul George will be firmed up at the mid-day shootaround leading up to Friday's game against the visiting Los Angeles Clippers. George injured a groin muscle during Tuesday's contest against the Atlanta Hawks and was a limited participant in Thursday's practice.

Center Steven Adams (hip) also participated in part of the practice after missing the game against the Hawks and his availability will also be determined on Friday. "They did shooting, did some work," Thunder coach Billy Donovan told reporters after Thursday's workout. "Things that we were walking through, they were on the court. But the things that were contact, those guys were not out there for that." The Clippers are 5-2 in March but suffered a 101-96 setback to the Houston Rockets on Thursday and are in ninth place in the Western Conference. Los Angeles stands one game behind the two teams (San Antonio and Utah) sharing the final two playoff positions and just 1 1/2 games behind sixth-place New Orleans.

TV: 8 p.m. ET, NBATV, Prime Ticket (Los Angeles), FS Oklahoma

ABOUT THE CLIPPERS (37-30): Forward Tobias Harris continues to thrive since being acquired as part of the package in which Blake Griffin went to the Detroit Pistons. Harris scored 29 points and collected eight rebounds in the loss to Houston and has topped 20 points in five of the last six games and nine of the past 12. Shooting guard Lou Williams had just 14 points on 6-of-18 shooting against the Rockets after topping 20 in five of six games to open the month of March.

ABOUT THE THUNDER (41-29): All-Star point guard Russell Westbrook became the fourth player in NBA history to reach 100 career triple-doubles when he had 32 points, 12 rebounds and 12 assists in the win over the Hawks. The other members of the star-studded group are Oscar Robertson (181), Magic Johnson (138) and Jason Kidd (107). "Oh man, just an unbelievable blessing," Westbrook said afterward. "I give thanks to the man above just for allowing me to go out and play the game I love each and every night. I never take it for granted. The group of guys that's ahead are Hall of Famers. I'm just happy to be a part of the crew with those guys."

BUZZER BEATERS

1. George averaged 36.5 points as the Thunder won this season's first two meetings with the Clippers.

2. Oklahoma City PF Carmelo Anthony has scored 21 points in back-to-back games after averaging 6.5 on 5-of-18 shooting over the previous two games.

3. Los Angeles G Austin Rivers scored 20 points against the Rockets for his 10th 20-point effort of the season.

PREDICTION: Thunder 111, Clippers 105