Clippers rally past Thunder behind Darius Garland's late and-one

INGLEWOOD, Calif. — The Los Angeles Clippers found a way to get the job done Friday night, holding off the Oklahoma City Thunder for a dramatic 113-112 victory at Intuit Dome in an NBA Cup matchup.

It wasn’t pretty, and it certainly wasn’t easy, but for a Clippers team that entered the night with a 2-8 record, the win was one they desperately needed.

Despite a 40-point performance from Shai Gilgeous-Alexander against the franchise that drafted him in 2018, Oklahoma City came up one point short. Darius Garland delivered the decisive play, driving to the basket for an and-one with just under a minute remaining in the fourth quarter to give the Clippers a 113-112 lead.

Garland finished with 24 points and seven assists, while his late-game heroics helped the Clippers secure just their third victory of the season.

“If you do the right things the right way, it's going to eventually work out for you,” Clippers head coach Ty Lue said after the game. “I'm proud of our guys for sticking with it.”

For a team that has struggled to find consistency through the opening stretch of the season, Friday's win offered a much-needed reason for optimism.

Clippers Take Control Early Before Thunder Respond

Neither team looked particularly sharp to open the game, as both sides traded baskets throughout the first quarter. However, the Clippers eventually found their rhythm and carried a 57-44 advantage into halftime.

Brook Lopez led the Clippers with 12 points in the first half, providing an offensive spark for a Clippers team looking to take advantage of its home court.

On the other side, Gilgeous-Alexander had already put together 18 points, keeping the Thunder within striking distance despite the 13-point deficit.

The Clippers had reason to feel good about their first-half performance, but their struggles coming out of halftime have been a recurring issue this season. Entering Friday's matchup at 2-8, the Clippers needed to find a way to maintain its momentum for all four quarters.

That proved to be easier said than done.

Jared McCain Leads Thunder Comeback in Third Quarter

Oklahoma City came out of the locker room with a different level of energy, and Jared McCain quickly became a major problem for the Clippers' defense.

McCain knocked down three three-pointers early in the second half, providing much-needed offensive support alongside Gilgeous-Alexander, who continued attacking the basket and putting pressure on the Clippers.

The Clippers' defensive struggles forced Lue to use two timeouts within the first five minutes of the third quarter.

By the 7:28 mark, Oklahoma City had erased the deficit and tied the game at 63-63.

The Thunder put together a 19-6 run to completely shift the momentum, exposing the Clippers' inability to consistently close out possessions and slow down an opposing offense.

McCain continued to find his rhythm throughout the quarter, and his biggest shot came at the buzzer. He connected on his fifth three-pointer of the third quarter as time expired, giving Oklahoma City an 84-82 lead heading into the fourth.

After controlling much of the first half, the Clippers suddenly found themselves chasing the game.

Darius Garland Delivers When It Matters Most

The fourth quarter showcased the depth and resilience of the Thunder, particularly with Oklahoma City's second unit making life difficult for the Clippers.

Alex Caruso, who had struggled offensively for much of the night, finally found his shot late in the fourth quarter. After starting 0-for-7 from the field, Caruso knocked down an open three-pointer to give Oklahoma City a four-point advantage.

But the Clippers weren't ready to let another game slip away.

The Clippers responded with 31 points in the fourth quarter, finding enough offense to stay within striking distance before Garland delivered the biggest play of the night.

With just under a minute remaining, Garland attacked the basket and drew a foul while finishing through contact. The and-one gave the Clippers a 113-112 lead, putting them in position to secure a much-needed victory.

Garland's ability to create offense in a pressure situation proved to be the difference, as the Clippers held on for the one-point win.

While Garland provided the late-game heroics, Brook Lopez was the Clippers' leading scorer and one of their most consistent offensive options throughout the night.

Lopez finished with 26 points, seven rebounds and four assists, giving the Clippers a reliable scoring presence against a talented Oklahoma City team.

Garland added 24 points and seven assists while playing 37 minutes, making his impact felt on both ends of the floor and delivering when the game was on the line.

Rui Hachimura also contributed on the glass, finishing with seven points and 11 rebounds as the Clippers needed every possession to get past the defending powerhouse.

For Oklahoma City, Gilgeous-Alexander's 40-point performance wasn't enough to overcome the Clippers' late push. McCain's five three-pointers in the third quarter gave the Thunder the momentum they needed to take control, but the Clippers found a way to respond when it mattered most.

Clippers Look to Build Momentum After Much-Needed Win

Friday's victory was more than just another game on the schedule for the Clippers.

The Clippers entered the matchup having won just two of their last 10 games, and the slow start has put pressure on the team to find answers before the season gets away from them.

Gilgeous-Alexander's performance also added another storyline to the matchup. The Clippers originally selected him in the 2018 NBA Draft before trading him to Oklahoma City in the summer of 2019 as part of the deal that brought Paul George to Los Angeles. George was subsequently paired with Kawhi Leonard as the franchise pursued a championship.

On Friday, Gilgeous-Alexander reminded the Clippers of the player they once had, pouring in 40 points. But Garland ultimately had the final say.

The Clippers will now look to carry some of that momentum into Sunday afternoon when they host the Charlotte Hornets at Intuit Dome.

After a difficult start to the season, the Clippers finally have another win in the column. And as Lue emphasized after the game, sticking with the right approach can eventually pay off.