By TONY SELLARS The Associated Press
OKLAHOMA CITY — The Clippers are eagerly awaiting the season debut of their biggest star. They played Thursday night without the other one.
The short-handed Clippers started strong, but they could not maintain that for four quarters and were no match for the red-hot Oklahoma City Thunder. Shai Gilgeous-Alexander scored 29 points and the Thunder won their franchise-record 13th consecutive regular-season game, handing the Clippers a 116-98 defeat.
The Clippers led 40-24 with 8:38 left in the first half before the Thunder pulled within 52-48 by halftime. Shaking off a cold shooting first half, the Thunder exploded for 42 third-quarter points and an 18-point lead heading into the fourth quarter.
Gilgeous-Alexander also had a game-high eight assists for the Thunder, who are 28-5 and have won 17 of their last 18 regular-season games. He did not play in the fourth quarter.
Jalen Williams scored 18 points and Isaiah Hartenstein added 11 points and nine rebounds for Oklahoma City.
Amir Coffey had 26 points to lead the Clippers (19-15), who scratched Harden before the game with right groin soreness. It was just the second game Harden has missed this season – both losses.
Clippers guard Norman Powell, who came into the game averaging a career-high 24.3 points per game, missed his first nine shots and didn’t get a basket until eight minutes remained, finishing with six points on 1-of-11 shooting (0 for 5 from 3-point range) and six of the team’s 19 turnovers.
Mo Bamba had 12 points and eight rebounds, while Ivica Zubac had 11 points and nine rebounds. Kevin Porter Jr. had 11 points, and Jordan Miller added 10.
After shooting just 31% in the first half, the Thunder wound up at an even 50% for the game and added to their league-leading steal total with 11 takeaways as their depth eventually overwhelmed the short-handed Clippers.
Williams hit a runner at the halftime buzzer to cut the Clippers’ lead to four, then scored the first six points of the second half to jumpstart a 23-5 run that put the Thunder in control.
The Clippers return home to host Atlanta on Saturday night, a game that is expected to be Kawhi Leonard’s long-awaited regular-season debut.
