Latest news:OKC Thunder vs. Clippers: Series Outlook

admin | December 21, 2023 | Uncategorized | No Comments

OKC Thunder vs. Clippers: Series Outlook

Oklahoma City hosts the Los Angeles Clippers in the series opener on Thursday night.

The first meeting of the season between the Thunder and the Clippers is scheduled for this Thursday night.

With Paul George and Kawhi Leonard back to full health and James Harden as their new addition since November, the Clippers are gradually establishing themselves in the Western Conference and are now riding an 8-game winning run.

The Thunder are steadily improving as one of the league’s youngest teams to now sit among the best teams in the

West, and they have the victories to support it. The Leonard-George tandem

is playing maybe their best basketball since moving to Los Angeles.

Thursday night, Oklahoma City comes in fresh off two victories that shaped their character.

One was a one-point victory over the Denver Nuggets thanks to a Shai Gilgeous-Alexander game-winning basket; the other came two nights later with a 19-point victory over the Memphis Grizzlies.

With a 17-8 overall record, a 5-2 record in December, Gilgeous-Alexander

showcasing his elite skill set, and Chet Holmgren finally finding his game, the

Thunder are a force to be reckoned with in the west when healthy.

It will be far more difficult for the Thunder to defeat the Leonard-led Clippers than it has been in the past

since Oklahoma City hasn’t quite seen this team yet.

In seven games since the 2021–22 season, Oklahoma City has only seen George three times and Leonard twice.

The Thunder have had some success playing a diluted version of Los Angeles

while they are rebuilding, as they have gone 4-3 versus the Clippers in the last two seasons.

Ever since that brief period of time, every team has changed in a unique way.

One more time, health is restored, and an innovative yet skilled piece is added. The other, constructing depth and longevity from a selfless youthful core.

And with two clubs that appear to be right in the thick of things, it will be an interesting series to watch in the Western Conference this year.