OKLAHOMA CITY (AP) — There was no celebration for the Oklahoma City Thunder after incomes their first win of the season in 4 tries.
Shai Gilgeous-(*33*) scored 33 factors and the Thunder defeated the short-handed Los Angeles Clippers 108-94 on Tuesday evening.
Oklahoma City coach Mark Daigneault stated the gamers are extra involved with course of than outcomes because the younger roster evolves. He stated his crew is “robotic” about suggestions.
“We just try to create like, an extremely ruthless consistency with our approach and just trust that if we do that, the guys will improve, the players will grow as they gain experience, things will slow down, their bodies will get stronger,” he stated. “And we just trust in that deal.”
The Clippers have been with out their two greatest stars. Kawhi Leonard sat out to relaxation his proper knee and Paul George missed the sport with an sickness. Another starter, Marcus Morris, was out for private causes. Oklahoma City took benefit by holding the Clippers to 42% taking pictures.
“I didn’t fault our effort,” coach Tyronn Lue stated. “I thought we did some good things, but we’ve just got to continue to keep getting better. When you’re short-handed like that, the small things mean a lot. When you’re missing Kawhi, PG & Marcus, all the small things add up.”
Luke Kennard scored 15 factors and Ivica Zubac had 10 factors and 14 rebounds for the Clippers.
Gilgeous-(*33*) performed after sitting out Sunday towards Minnesota with a bruised left hip. He stated he felt fairly good Monday, however felt “extremely good” on Tuesday after therapy. He confirmed simply how good by making 11 of twenty-two discipline objectives and 9 of 9 free throws with eight assists.
Daigneault stated Gilgeous-(*33*) has developed an ideal sense of methods to assault defenses.
“I don’t tell him anything, to be honest with you, other than process-oriented stuff. … With guys that have great instincts, you can overcoach them and really mess them up,” Daigneault stated. “So I let him make those decisions.”
Tre Mann scored 16 of his 25 factors within the first half and Gilgeous-(*33*) added 14 to help Oklahoma City take a 49-43 lead at halftime.
The Thunder pulled away for good with a 21-0 run within the third quarter.
“We had that?” Mann stated. ”That’s loopy.”
Gilgeous-(*33*) had eight factors and two assists in the course of the surge.
The Clippers didn’t have a participant attain double-figure factors till Robert Covington made a 3-pointer with 3:20 left within the third quarter to get to 10.
Gilgeous-(*33*) tried 19 pictures earlier than taking a 3-pointer. He lastly took one, and his bucket from right away because the third quarter expired gave Oklahoma City an 84-68 lead.
BIG NUMBERS
Gilgeous-(*33*) is averaging 31 factors via his first three video games, however how he’s doing it’s as spectacular as the full numbers.
He’s taking pictures 49% from the sphere and 39% from 3-point vary. He’s averaging 6.7 assists. He’s made all 20 of his free throws and has seven steals and 5 blocks.
He has scored at the very least 30 factors in 12 of his previous 16 video games going again to final season.
TIP-INS
Clippers: Shot 37.8% from the sphere within the first half. … Former Thunder participant Reggie Jackson scored 9 factors on 4-for-17 taking pictures. … Kennard was referred to as for a technical with 3:39 remaining. … Zubac was the one Clippers starter to attain in double figures.
Thunder: G Josh Giddey sat out with a sprained proper ankle. … Missed their first 10 3-pointers and made simply 4 of 30 general. … G Lu Dort scored 4 factors on 1-for-11 taking pictures. … Took 110 pictures to 83 for Los Angeles and outrebounded the Clippers 60-47. … F Aaron Wiggins had 11 factors and 10 rebounds.
UP NEXT
The Thunder host the Clippers once more on Thursday.
___
Follow Cliff Brunt on Twitter: twitter.com/CliffBruntAP
___
More AP NBA: https://apnews.com/hub/NBA and https://twitter.com/AP_Sports
publish credit score to Source link