Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, Jalen Williams Lead Thunder to Comeback Over Clippers

As the Oklahoma City Thunder were faced with yet another opportunity to reach the .500 mark, they faced the Los Angeles Clippers in the first of two games in a baseball style series. Though the game was back and forth and had a weird, slow feeling to it, the Thunder came away with a 101-100 win.

Shai Gilgeous-Alexander is the obvious driver of this team. His play often dictates which way the Thunder will trend in that game. That was halfway true this time around. He started off 3-of-3 from the field, but then he began to cool off. However, the team picked up his slack and they had a lead entering halftime.

As the teams began trading leads and offenses were stalling out, Gilgeous-Alexander put together an incredible stretch to keep the Thunder in the game. Though they trailed by one to finish the quarter, it was a position they wouldn’t have been in without the All-Stars play.

Gilgeous-Alexander finished the game with 31 points on 12-of-25 shooting. He added seven rebounds and seven assists. Not to mention, he finished the game with four turnovers after committing three within the first few minutes of the contest.

Jalen Williams, who has been building himself a Rookie of the Year case, was the Thunder’s second option on offense in this contest. He rose to the challenge with one of the biggest tests he’s faced this season, as he finished with 20 points, eight rebounds and three assists on 8-of-15 shooting.

While Lu Dort and Isaiah Joe didn’t have the biggest box score impact, their key plays brought some game-swinging moments.

Dort had the biggest play of the game. Kawhi Leonard, who had been getting to his spots on the court and was consistently knocking down his shots, had a chance to win the game in the final seconds. However, Dort had different plans. He didn’t allow Leonard any separation and didn't let the former Finals MVP even get a shot off with time expiring.

Joe played solid defense as a point of attack defender and help side defender, and made a few key plays as well. He stripped Leonard at one point and immediately drew the foul. He even took a couple charges, all of this while his gravity of a shooter allowed Gilgeous-Alexander and others spacing.

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