Editor
Scores updated regularly. REFRESH NOW
LA Clippers vs Oklahoma City Thunder |
||
---|---|---|
2016/17 NBA Chmapionship |
||
Staples Centre, LA | ||
LA Clippers | Oklahoma City Thunder | |
83 | SCORE | 85 |
24 | Q1 | 23 |
17 | Q2 | 26 |
25 | Q3 | 16 |
17 | Q4 | 20 |
The Los Angeles Clippers and Oklahoma City Thunder will do battle today as the only two undefeated sides left in the Western Conference and the chance to keep that streak alive. Follow all the live highlights, scores, and action on The Roar from 1:30pm (AEDT).
The Clippers are playing their third game in four days after wins on the road against the Suns and the Jazz earlier in the week.
Led by Chris Paul, Blake Griffin and DeAndre Jordan, the Clippers have been a force to reckoned with in the paint and around the basket, but their defence has been the standout.
They’ve kept their opposition to just 42.6 per cent from the field in their opening three games, conceding 93 points per game in the process.
While LA has been impressive, all eyes are on Thunder’s unstoppable force Russell Westbrook.
Westbrook has broken a plethora of records on his way to a pair of triple-doubles in OKC’s undefeated three-match run.
He became the first player since legend Kareem Abdul-Jabbar back in 1975 to score a triple-double that included 50 points.
He comfortably leads the league in scoring and is the MVP favourite just one week into the new season.
“He’s an unbelievable player. Just the impact he has on the game from so many different areas. Just the pressure he puts on defenses just alone is crazy,” said Clippers forward Blake Griffin.
“You see what Russ is doing. You see that they have guys that are very capable. So that part, you look forward to a game like that.”
It’s not just a one-man show though, Vic Oladipo and big man Steven Adams both average double figures in the scoring column and have been causing havoc under the basket with rebounds, giving Westbrook those second chance points.
Both sides have had a fairly easy run so far, facing just one team inside the top eight of the conference from their six combined games.
This will be the first real test of the season and a gauge as to where they could be standing when the playoffs come around.
Prediction
Westbrook has been setting the NBA on fire in the early goings of the season and the Thunder are subsequently looking like one of the toughest teams in the league.
They’ll be pushing for a top playoffs spot at the pointy end of the season, but the Clippers are in the same boat.
LA have looked the better overall side so after the opening week, but the Westbrook one man show is nearly unstoppable.
The Clippers might take this in front of the home crowd and keep the undefeated streak running, but only just.
Clippers to win by 2