Clippers Open the Season With a Close Call

The Clippers opened their season with plenty of pomp and circumstance. It’s probably safe to say enthusiastic new owner Steve Ballmer wouldn’t have it any other way. Ballmer was in the house to witness his first official game as owner and it would seem that the organization is already reflecting his style. There was a pregame video advertising the Clippers’ new mantra, “Be Relentless.” Fergie sang the National Anthem. NBA commissioner Adam Silver and celebrities were in attendance. The only issue, unfortunately: someone needed to tell the Clippers that the season had begun.

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Oklahoma City started the game with an 8-0 run. The Clippers finally got on the board with two Blake Griffin free throws. Then the fans witnessed a good sign–Matt Barnes hit a three-pointer! Barnes, who struggled with his shooting during the preseason, hit three of four shots for seven points in the first quarter, but the Thunder led 28-22 at the end of the quarter.

Clippers head coach Doc Rivers continued his chemistry experiment, playing 10 guys before the midway point of the second quarter. The Clippers went on an 8-0 run to take their first lead of the game thanks to a Jamal Crawford three with 7:46 left in the second. Crawford finished the half with ten points.

Oct 30, 2014; Los Angeles, CA, USA; Los Angeles Clippers center DeAndre Jordan (6) and guard Chris Paul (3) react to a foul call in the second half of the game against the Oklahoma City Thunder at Staples Center. Clippers won 93-90. Mandatory Credit: Jayne Kamin-Oncea-USA TODAY Sports

TNT analyst Greg Anthony observed during the Clippers’ run that the team showed good ball movement and played with more offensive force. Speaking of offensive force, Chris Paul and DeAndre Jordan provided the fans with their first Lob City experience of the year. After seeing how much hang-time Jordan got, it’s easy to understand how this play invigorated the crowd.

Oklahoma City struggled offensively in the second, going almost five minutes without a field goal, but hung around thanks to their defense. Unfortunately, the injury-decimated Thunder suffered another blow when Russell Westbrook left the game about halfway through the quarter with what would later be revealed as a small fracture in the second metacarpal of his right hand. Westbrook, who played eight minutes and scored two points, sat out the rest of the game, leaving the Thunder with only 8 eligible players.

With just over a minute left in the half, Blake Griffin scored his first basket of the game, nailing a fade-away jumper. The Clippers closed out the quarter with an 8-2 run, entering the locker room up 46-41. Although they had the lead, it wasn’t the prettiest half of basketball. The Clippers shot poorly in the first quarter, the Thunder shot poorly in the second, plus they caught the turnover bug.

Oct 30, 2014; Los Angeles, CA, USA; Los Angeles Clippers owner Steve Ballmer talks with forward Matt Barnes (22) before the game against the Oklahoma City Thunder at Staples Center. Mandatory Credit: Jayne Kamin-Oncea-USA TODAY Sports

The Clippers closed out the third quarter with an eight-point lead, but the Thunder weren’t going to go down without a fight. It seems Oklahoma City didn’t get the memo that their two best players were on the bench.

Towards the end of the fourth quarter it began raining threes. Serge Ibaka hit a three pointer with four and a half minutes left, cutting the lead to four. Then it was J.J. Redick’s turn. His basket extended the Clippers’ lead back to seven, but the Thunder came roaring back. Ibaka and Sebastian Telfair answered with back-to-back threes, cutting the Clippers lead to one.

Following an Oklahoma City turnover and down 88-89, Telfair fouled Paul with 13 seconds left. Paul had a chance to pretty much put the game away, but he missed both free throws. Telfair then missed a shot and Griffin was fouled on the rebound. He sunk both free throws to give the Clippers a three point lead before Nick Collison was fouled and made two free throws to cut the lead back to one. Oklahoma City immediately fouled Reddick, who hit two free throws with 2 seconds left and the Clippers escaped with a 93-90 win over the Thunder.

Oct 30, 2014; Los Angeles, CA, USA; Los Angeles Clippers forward Blake Griffin (32) is fouled by Oklahoma City Thunder forward Serge Ibaka (9) in the second half of the game at Staples Center. Clippers won 93-90. Mandatory Credit: Jayne Kamin-Oncea-USA TODAY Sports

Although a win is a win, the team wasn’t very satisfied with their performance against a depleted Oklahoma City team. The Thunder had a higher shooting percentage and out-rebounded the Clippers. OKC’s Perry Jones finished with a career high 32 points, seven rebounds and three assists. Griffin led the Clippers in scoring with 23 points and Paul had 22 in the first win of the Ballmer era.

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