Shai Gilgeous-Alexander leads OKC Thunder past Clippers in return from NBA All-Star break
The question interrupted them gushing over each other. Shai Gilgeous-Alexander was proud of his own answer, and Jalen Williams was proud of his teammate’s tie.
Their heads swiveled at the same moment, their ears perking up just enough to realize they didn’t have to change what they were doing. An hour after the Thunder’s 129-107 win over the Clippers, the two were asked what they expected of each other defensively.
“Each other?” Gilgeous-Alexander asked, smirking.
Williams noted that he didn’t expect a fixed number of steals — which SGA leads the league in — or blocks. Only that his point guard would be everywhere. Gilgeous-Alexander noted that he expects Williams to successfully guard the other team’s best player.
“And if he doesn’t do so, I’m disappointed, and he knows that,” said Gilgeous-Alexander, who finished with 31 points, eight rebounds, four assists and a pair of blocks.
Their expectations took on lives of their own on Thursday.
Williams swapped between his assignments of Kawhi Leonard and Paul George. Gilgeous-Alexander roamed and helped and filled in gaps. The Thunder played one of its best defensive quarters of the year, a roaring third that left the Clippers deflated.
OKC’s young duo shared a pair of plays that defined the third quarter, the Thunder’s surge, and Los Angeles’ defeat.
There was the 2-on-1 break with four minutes remaining — or at least what should’ve been. With SGA backpedaling, Russell Westbrook gaining steam and Ivica Zubac in the race, Williams sprinted like the T-1000 to enter the frame just as the gaggle crossed half court.
His strides lengthy and powerful like a horse’s gallop, Williams planted his feet in time for Zubac’s shot, a trailing denial that put a muzzle on an L.A. fastbreak.
Gilgeous-Alexander’s sequence came just two minutes later. An overzealous turnover just as Aaron Wiggins began the break sent Amir Coffey directly toward SGA. Wiggins made a 180, and Gilgeous-Alexander had ground to cover. Both erased it to embarrass Coffey. When the Clippers hurdled toward the rim with the offensive rebound, there was Gilgeous-Alexander. Again.
It resulted in the 3-pointer that effectively ended the Clippers’ night.
Thunder coach Mark Daigneault will reference fighting like a washed-up boxing coach. The one you know that swears he taught Floyd Mayweather his moves, and that hisses between the jabs he throws around the house. Daigneault will often say his team didn’t have its best punch.
But OKC’s third-quarter haymaker was worthy of belts. It was a slack-jawing, speedy, blitz of a hook that knocked the Clippers back like a sucker punch. The Thunder prioritized its movements, focusing its energy on forcing certain shots and living with others. Aside from Norman Powell’s four 3s (only one came in the third), the Clippers wound up shooting everything OKC wanted them to.
Westbrook spiraled out of his own control, flinging up ill-angled layups. Terance Mann went 1 for 5 in the quarter, resorting to post ups and missing his rim opportunities. Zubac was met with force. The Clippers shot just 30.8% in the quarter, with the Thunder tallying seven blocks.
Any notion of the Thunder shying from physicality, even with small lineups, was muted, deafened by a crowd enjoying backbreaking defensive sequences.
“These are some of the best athletes in the world and everybody’s competitive,” rookie Chet Holmgren said. “You don’t make it here if you’re not competitive, and physicality is just a part of that.”
Any notion of the Thunder shying from contact was muted, deafened by a crowd enjoying backbreaking defensive sequences.
Gilgeous-Alexander showed teeth just thinking about it.
Thinking for themselves
It was Kevin Durant then. Back in November, during a successful trip to Phoenix, the young Thunder toggled their defensive coverages as the game went on to throw off one of the game’s greatest scorers.
And it worked.
Daigneault has fostered that sort of environment. One where his players can decide those decisions for themselves on the fly. When to double, when to send a third body, went to hang around in the gap.
“They’re figuring it out in live time, not knowing how it’s gonna go,” Williams said.
That philosophy has continued to grow. It has kept its illuminated green light, and it’s also added wisdom through experience. Deciding when to send bodies at Leonard, when to sink a third defender lower. Knowing where to be, talking through it all.
George finished with just 14 points on 16 shots, and Leonard hardly continued the impact that came from his robotic first half.
“From (Daigneault’s) perspective, nothing’s changed as far as letting us go out there and make real-time decisions,” Williams said. “He kind of gives us the blueprint and we go from there. I think whenever we’re able to just have the freedom to play sporadic like that and leave it to the feel of the game, that helps us.”
Hayward’s debut
Daigneault didn’t give any reason for high expectations. He spoke of metaphors mentioning that the team would merge new forward Gordon Hayward into the lane slowly, that they’d measure twice and cut once when evaluating his debut into the lineup.
As a result, Hayward’s debut was everything it was expected to be.
In 14 minutes, he went 0 for 2, had four rebounds and avoided being a liability in a game with heavy playoff seeding implications.
Hayward has noted that his emphasis since his arrival has been communicating his role defensively and understanding where he needs to be inside a young, active defense. On Thursday, he did just enough. He thwarted a couple of George’s fourth-quarter drives. He essentially did what he was supposed to as the man helping from the corner, a low-pressure scenario with him often guarding a lower-level threat.
Not bad for the team’s old man.
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Thunder vs. Clippers live score updates
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Thunder vs. Clippers highlights
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Final: Thunder 129, Clippers 107
OKC just flattened LA in that second half. 10 blocks (nine in 3rd), held Clips to 5 for 16 from 3. Videogame shotmaking, constant adjustments and defensively prioritizing to pile on run after run.
—Joel Lorenzi, Staff writer
End of 3Q: Thunder 96, Clippers 82
I imagine that'll be one of the best defensive quarters of the Thunder's season. Nine blocks, held LA to 29.6% from the floor, 28.6% from 3. Mann and Russ go a combined 1 for 11. OKC prioritizing well (plus some luck).
—Joel Lorenzi, Staff writer
Half: Thunder 61, Clippers 59
Unreal shotmaking, playoff feel. SGA with a loud 19 points and five assists. Chet with 11 pts, three 3s. Kawhi with 12 pts on just one miss. Thunder shooting 10 for 21 from deep. LA 7 for 16 from out there.
—Joel Lorenzi, Staff writer
Gordon Hayward makes his debut to start second quarter
Gordon Hayward starting the second quarter with the Dub/Chet lineup.
—Joel Lorenzi, Staff writer
End of 1Q: Thunder 35, Clippers 33
Lot of back and forth. OKC's second unit responded to the early LA with better help, halfcourt defense. Turning the Clips over, prioritizing certain looks. Got the Thunder transition attempts and momentous possessions. OKC is 7 for 13 from 3.
—Joel Lorenzi, Staff writer
4:50 left 1Q: Kawhi Leonard, Clippers rolling
10-0 Clipper run. Getting a lot of stuff in transition. Kawhi getting to his spots, Clips getting some early offense after Giddey misses. He's 1 for 5. LA leads 23-16.
—Joel Lorenzi, Staff writer
Jalen Williams pays homage to James Harden
Jalen Williams did his pregame gallop toward the baseline, he passed James Harden, who was standing under the basket. Harden stared at his feet in confusion — Williams is wearing a custom Harden 8 from ASW — then nodded in respect.
—Joel Lorenzi, Staff writer
Thunder vs. Clippers start time today
Matchup: Thunder (37-17) vs. Clippers (36-17)
Date: Thursday, Feb. 22
Time: 7 p.m. CT
Where: Paycom Center in Oklahoma City
Betting line: Thunder by 1
Box score: Click HERE
More: OKC Thunder rookie Chet Holmgren is chasing greatness and isn't afraid to fail on the way
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TV: Bally Sports Oklahoma
Radio: 98.1 FM, 640 AM
Streaming: Fubo (free trial).
If you don't have Bally Sports Oklahoma, you can sign up for Fubo with a free trial to watch the Thunder all season long.
More: Jalen Williams is having best OKC Thunder's 3-point season ever. See the top-10 list.
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This article originally appeared on Oklahoman: Shai Gilgeous-Alexander leads OKC Thunder past Los Angeles Clippers
