Brook Lopez and Darius Garland power Clippers to victory over Thunder
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Brook Lopez scored 26 points and Darius Garland added 24 as the Clippers finished off a 113-112 victory Friday night in an NBA Cup group game, sending the shorthanded Oklahoma City Thunder to a season-high third consecutive loss.
Derrick Jones Jr. and rookie Keaton Wagler had 14 points apiece, and Gradey Dick added 13 as the Clippers scored the final seven points to win for the second time in three games after opening the season with a 1-7 record.
Shai Gilgeous-Alexander scored 40 for the Thunder but missed a 21-foot jumper at the buzzer that would have won it.
The Clippers have lost eight of their last nine games after Tuesday’s rout at the hands of the Phoenix Suns.
Jared McCain had 23 points and Isaiah Hartenstein finished with 21 points with 16 rebounds as Oklahoma City fell to 0-3 on a four-game West Coast trip. McCain shot seven of 11 from three-point range.
The Clippers led 57-44 at halftime behind 12 points from Lopez, while the Thunder shot only two of 17 on threes over the first two quarters. Oklahoma City recovered to outscore Los Angeles 40-25 in the third by shooting five of 11 from long distance.
Gilgeous-Alexander hit a leaning three-pointer with 3:01 remaining for a 110-106 lead. The Clippers trailed 112-106 with 2:43 remaining before closing the game on a 7-0 run. Lopez scored a pair of baskets down the stretch before Garland put the Clippers ahead for good on a three-point play with 50.4 seconds left.
Without starters Chet Holmgren (knee), Jalen Williams (leg) and Cason Wallace (shoulder) since Oct. 26, the Thunder started a pair of 7-footers in Hartenstein and rookie Aday Mara for the second consecutive game and fourth time this season. Mara finished with 10 points and three blocks.
