INGLEWOOD, Calif. — The Oklahoma City Thunder showed why they're the defending champions, pulling away from the Los Angeles Clippers in a 126-107 victory Tuesday night at Intuit Dome.
The loss dropped the Clippers to 3-4 on the season as their early-season struggles continued without key players Kawhi Leonard (ankle) and Bradley Beal (knee).
Harden Can't Carry the Burden
James Harden did his best to keep the Clippers competitive, scoring 25 points and putting up 22 in the first half alone but it wasn't enough against the league's last unbeaten team.
John Collins added 17 points while Derrick Jones Jr. chipped in 16, but the Clippers couldn't match the Thunder's firepower once Oklahoma City turned up the pressure.
Derrick Jones Jr. has just been so good this season.👀
— Grant "Money" Mona (@Gmona48) November 5, 2025
Gets the offensive rebound and putback.
Clippers playing super tough so far against OKC. pic.twitter.com/UW6qZ8LatG
Playing on the second night of a back-to-back after losing to Miami on Monday, the Clippers showed signs of fatigue as they also couldn't shake their turnover issues that have plagued them all season.
After giving the ball away 21 times against the Heat, LA coughed it up 19 more times against the Thunder, leading to 34 Oklahoma City points.
After the game, Harden pointed to deeper issues beyond just this loss. "Lineups, rotations, and figuring out who fits well with who. We're a fairly new team, so it's not even about the Thunder. It's about us," he said.
Thunder Pull Away in Second Half
The Clippers actually started hot, jumping out to a 33-23 lead after the first quarter without a single turnover, but once the Thunder figured things out, the game turned completely.
Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, the league's reigning MVP, took over in the second half, scoring 18 of his 30 points in the third quarter alone, adding 12 assists and shooting an efficient 9-for-14 from the floor.
It has been a disaster in the 4th quarter for the Clippers.
— Grant "Money" Mona (@Gmona48) November 5, 2025
It was 88-86 with 1:26 left in the 3rd.
A 26-6 run since then. The Clippers will fall to 3-4. pic.twitter.com/dgAtVmo9Ds
The real damage came at the end of the third and start of the fourth when Oklahoma City went on a devastating 17-0 run that completely broke the game open.
Isaiah Joe hit back-to-back threes to end the third quarter, then the Thunder scored the first 11 points of the fourth to take a commanding 105-86 lead.
"I just put in the work. I take care of my body. I get enough rest, and I do it all over again," Gilgeous-Alexander said after the win. "I found a formula that works for me, and I try to hammer it home."
Same Problems, Different Night
Tyronn Lue has seen this story before.
The turnovers and transition defense breakdowns have become recurring nightmares for his team amid a slow start to the season.
"We've harped on it the last four, five years now," Lue said with visible frustration. "I'm mad about it, but we'll get better."
James Harden is ON one tonight.
— Grant "Money" Mona (@Gmona48) November 5, 2025
17 points in NINE minutes. pic.twitter.com/3JJ9IIltEx
The Clippers now sit at 3-4, already fighting to stay competitive in a tough Western Conference.
They head to Phoenix on Thursday night looking to snap a two-game losing streak and figure out the chemistry issues that Harden mentioned. Without Leonard and Beal, finding the right combinations has become even harder for a team that is looking to mesh for the first time this season.