Thunder suffer another monumental collapse in loss to Clippers
A 121-118 loss to the Golden State Warriors on Saturday was supposedly rock bottom for the Oklahoma City Thunder, who blew a 12-point lead in the fourth quarter before falling in overtime.
Kevin Durant (30 points and 11 rebounds) and Co. found a way to sink even lower on Wednesday at Staples Center, getting outscored 35-13 in the final frame en route to a 103-98 loss to the Los Angeles Clippers.
L.A. (41-20) overcame a late 17-point deficit, and trailed by as many as 22, tied for the fourth-largest comeback in the NBA this season.
What a finish! Clippers outscore OKC 35-13 in 4th quarter to secure win, 103-98. pic.twitter.com/qjZbl4M1eP
— NBA on ESPN (@ESPNNBA) March 3, 2016
Really, it only took the Clippers 4:58 to get the job done, ending the night on a 22-3 run to extend their winning streak to three games.
Russell Westbrook (24 points, 12 assists, and six rebounds) had a chance to tie things up during the game's final moments, but ultimately forced up a contested 3-pointer in traffic which didn't come close to falling through the hoop.
what was this pic.twitter.com/OGBNrE9Uqt
— Kenny Ducey (@KennyDucey) March 3, 2016
It was another blown opportunity for Westbrook to come through in the clutch. The five-time All-Star is now 5-of-38 for his career, including 3-of-26 from behind the arc, when attempting game-tying or go-ahead shots during the final 10 seconds of regulation or overtime.
A pair of free throws from J.J. Redick (16 points on 6-of-13 shooting) sealed the victory for Los Angeles.
Center DeAndre Jordan is usually a liability late in tight games, but on this night, he rewarded head coach Doc Rivers for trusting him, making big plays and converting important buckets down the stretch. The 6-foot-11 big man scored eight of his 20 points in the final 2:47, including this tip-in which gave the Clippers their first lead since going up 11-9 in the first quarter.
Huge comeback for the @LAClippers, as they comeback from 22 down. @deandrejordan6 came up with this huge bucket late pic.twitter.com/u6aSVoyaYG
— The Hangout (@_TheHangout_) March 3, 2016
Speaking after his team's latest dispiriting loss, coach Billy Donovan said the Thunder need to take a hard look in the mirror.
"The decision we have to make from a collective accountability standpoint is 'what kind of team do we want to be?,'" Donovan said, according to ESPN's Rachel Nichols.
"We're fooling ourselves the way we're playing... No discipline." Kevin Durant
— Ben Golliver (@BenGolliver) March 3, 2016
The Thunder (42-19) have now lost nine games this season when leading heading into the fourth quarter, with the Philadelphia 76ers the only team with more, according to ESPN Stats and Info.
It's not going to get any easier for Donovan's squad, as they now head to the Bay Area to do battle with the Warriors, again, at Oracle Arena on Thursday. The reigning champions are a perfect 25-0 at home this season.