OKC Nips LA Clippers in Late Season Struggle; Keeps League Lead, Drops Clips to 8th
By Teodoro Medina Reynoso
PhilBoxing.com
Mon, 24 Mar 2025
At this point, the Oklahoma City Thunder can afford to drop a game, having virtually clinched the Western Conference top seed.
On the other hand, their opponents, the Los Angeles Clippers need to win in order to gain on the Golden State Warriors for the battle for the sixth and final automatic spot for the playoffs in the West.
But having overtaken the Cleveland Cavaliers for overall league leadership, it was obvious OKC wouldn't want to let go of it.
What transpired in today's confrontation therefore became a struggle, a test of will. And in the end, Oklahoma prevailed by just two points, 103-101 in a down the wire battle in a game where its biggest star had his lowest score performance.
Shai Gilgeous Alexander scored just 26 points and was not as big factor as he usually is. But veteran Alex Caruso provided the needed boost on offense and defense where it mattered the most, even standing up against LAC's main man Kahwi Leonard.
On the other hand, Isaac Hertenstein and Jaylin Williams, standing in for injured main OKC big man Chet Holmgren combined for 26 points and 17 rebounds as they neutralized Clippers behemoth Ivica Zubac at the slot. The burly seven-foot Zubac came away with 15 points and 11 rebounds.
Reserve Aaron Wiggins also backed up Alexander and in part forward Lue Dorf as he tossed in 19 big points in somehow matching the combined production of Leonard (24 points) James Harden, Norman (17) Powell and Derrick Jones, both with 9 points.
The game held at the Intuit Dome in Los Angeles was decided in the waning seconds with Alexander fittingly clinching it with a three pointer after Caruso answered Leonard basket for basket in the last less than a minute left for a 100-all standoff. The Clippers still had a chance to tie the game through Leonard but Caruso blunted it with a two free throw foul on Kahwi.
Kahwi made the first charity and deliberately missed the second with the Clippers getting the rebound but the buzzer sounded ending the game.
Clippers were critical of the officiating in the loss, claiming that in many instances, Hertenstein got away with his physicality with Zubac while Alexander's defenders did not get the referee's benefit of the doubt.
The victory raised Oklahoma's league leading mark to 59-12, two games ahead of Cleveland (57-14) with only 11 games left in the current season.
The loss on the other hand, dropped the Clippers in the interim to #8 with a slate of 40-31 behind Minnesota Timberwolves (41-31) and current #6 Golden State Warriors (41-30). A win could have tied them with the Warriors.
The author Teodoro Medina Reynoso is a veteran boxing radio talk show host living in the Philippines. He can be reached at teddyreynoso@yahoo.com and by phone 09215309477.
Click here to view a list of other articles written by Teodoro Medina Reynoso.
Recent PhilBoxing.com In-House articles:
THE PAST WEEK IN ACTION 25 JANUARY 2026: Raymund Muratalla Edges Andy Cruz; Walsh Outpoints Ocampo
By Eric Armit, Mon, 26 Jan 2026MFPI 5th Mindanao Summit at Mt. Apo on February 19-22
By Lito delos Reyes, Mon, 26 Jan 2026OLYMPIC BOXING 8: 1948 OLYMPICS AT LONDON, UNITED KINGDOM
By Maloney L. Samaco, Mon, 26 Jan 2026Golden Gloves Launches on Meta Quest Store, Establishing the First Official Esports Competition Pathway for Amateur Boxing
Mon, 26 Jan 2026Andy Cruz vs Raymond Muratalla: Who Will Execute?
By Chris Carlson, Sat, 24 Jan 2026Libranza to fight undefeated Tso for IBF Pan Pacific bantam
By Lito delos Reyes, Sat, 24 Jan 2026Filipino Cue Artist RJ Bautista Ready to Shine at the Las Vegas Open 2026
By Marlon Bernardino, Sat, 24 Jan 2026MURATALLA VS. CRUZ WEIGHTS AND RUNNING ORDER
Sat, 24 Jan 2026Xander Zayas vs. Abass Baraou Fight Week Events to Stream LIVE on Top Rank’s Social Media Channels
Sat, 24 Jan 2026Ballesteros not yet ready against Ocum
By Lito delos Reyes, Sat, 24 Jan 2026Chocolatito Gonzalez to undergo shoulder surgery
By Gabriel F. Cordero, Sat, 24 Jan 2026NM Nika finishes Sixth in Czech Republic Blitz chess tourney
By Marlon Bernardino, Sat, 24 Jan 2026The Ninth Annual Box Fan Expo RETURNS! Saturday May 2, 2026 at the Las Vegas Convention Center, Las Vegas, NV
Sat, 24 Jan 2026Donaire back in Cebu
By Joaquin Henson, Fri, 23 Jan 2026MURATALLA VS. CRUZ IN LAS VEGAS FINAL PRESS CONFERENCE QUOTES
Fri, 23 Jan 2026