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Clippers fall to Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, Thunder

February 23, 2024

Clippers forward Kawhi Leonard points to a teammate as Oklahoma City Thunder guard Luguentz Dort defends during the first half on Thursday night in Oklahoma City. (AP Photo/Nate Billings)

Clippers center Ivica Zubac, left, grabs a rebound next to Oklahoma City Thunder forward Chet Holmgren, upper right, and guard Luguentz Dort, lower right, during the first half on Thursday night in Oklahoma City. (AP Photo/Nate Billings)

Clippers star Paul George shoots as Oklahoma City Thunder forward Gordon Hayward defends during the second half on Thursday night in Oklahoma City. (AP Photo/Nate Billings)

Clippers center Ivica Zubac (40) tries to score between Oklahoma City Thunder guard Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, left, and forward Jalen Williams during the second half on Thursday night in Oklahoma City. (AP Photo/Nate Billings)

Oklahoma City Thunder guard Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, center, looks to pass the ball between Clippers stars Paul George, left, and Kawhi Leonard during the first half on Thursday night in Oklahoma City. (AP Photo/Nate Billings)

Oklahoma City Thunder guard Shai Gilgeous-Alexander prepares to shoot as Clippers forward Kawhi Leonard defends during the first half on Thursday night in Oklahoma City. (AP Photo/Nate Billings)

Oklahoma City Thunder guard Shai Gilgeous-Alexander prepares to shoot as Clippers stars Paul George (13) and Kawhi Leonard, far left, defend during the first half on Thursday night in Oklahoma City. (AP Photo/Nate Billings)

Oklahoma City Thunder forward Gordon Hayward, front, looks to shoot as Clippers star Paul George defends during the first half on Thursday night in Oklahoma City. (AP Photo/Nate Billings)

Oklahoma City Thunder forward Jalen Williams drives as Clippers guard James Harden defends during the first half on Thursday night in Oklahoma City. (AP Photo/Nate Billings)

Clippers forward Kawhi Leonard holds the ball as Oklahoma City Thunder forward Kenrich Williams defends during the second half on Thursday night in Oklahoma City. (AP Photo/Nate Billings)

Oklahoma City Thunder guard Cason Wallace, left, steals the ball from Clippers guard Terance Mann as Thunder forward Kenrich Williams, right, defends during the second half on Thursday night in Oklahoma City. (AP Photo/Nate Billings)

Oklahoma City Thunder guard Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, center, looks to pass the ball as Clippers forwards Paul George, left, and Kawhi Leonard defend during the first half on Thursday night in Oklahoma City. Gilgeous-Alexander had 31 points to lead the Thunder to a 129-107 win. (AP Photo/Nate Billings)

Clippers guard Russell Westbrook signals to his teammates during the second half of their game against the Oklahoma City Thunder on Thursday night in Oklahoma City. (AP Photo/Nate Billings)

Oklahoma City Thunder forward Chet Holmgren, left, holds the ball as Clippers guard Amir Coffey defends during the second half on Thursday night in Oklahoma City. (AP Photo/Nate Billings)

Oklahoma City Thunder forward Chet Holmgren, right, considers his options as Clippers guard James Harden, left, defends during the second half on Thursday night in Oklahoma City. (AP Photo/Nate Billings)

Oklahoma City Thunder guard Luguentz Dort prepares to shoot as Clippers star Paul George, right, defends during the second half on Thursday night in Oklahoma City. (AP Photo/Nate Billings)

Oklahoma City Thunder guard Luguentz Dort, center, shoots between Clippers stars James Harden, left, and Paul George, right, during the second half on Thursday night in Oklahoma City. (AP Photo/Nate Billings)

Oklahoma City Thunder forward Jalen Williams prepares to shoot next to Clippers guard Amir Coffey during the second half on Thursday night in Oklahoma City. (AP Photo/Nate Billings)

Oklahoma City Thunder guard Josh Giddey, left, passes the ball over Clippers guard Russell Westbrook during the second half on Thursday night in Oklahoma City. (AP Photo/Nate Billings)

Oklahoma City Thunder guard Isaiah Joe, center, dunks next to Clippers center Ivica Zubac (40) as star Paul George (13) looks on during the second half on Thursday night in Oklahoma City. (AP Photo/Nate Billings)

Clippers guard Norman Powell, right, prepares to shoot as Oklahoma City Thunder guard Cason Wallace defends during the second half on Thursday night in Oklahoma City. (AP Photo/Nate Billings)

Clippers star Paul George gets to the basket for a layup in front of Oklahoma City Thunder guards Luguentz Dort, left, and Shai Gilgeous-Alexander during the second half on Thursday night in Oklahoma City. (AP Photo/Nate Billings)

Oklahoma City Thunder guard Josh Giddey, back, prepares to shoot as Clippers guard James Harden defends during the second half on Thursday night in Oklahoma City. (AP Photo/Nate Billings)

Clippers head coach Tyronn Lue claps during a timeout in the second half of their game against the Oklahoma City Thunder on Thursday night in Oklahoma City. (AP Photo/Nate Billings)

Clippers forward Kawhi Leonard, left, spins away from Oklahoma City Thunder guard Josh Giddey, right, during the first half on Thursday night in Oklahoma City. (AP Photo/Nate Billings)

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By TIM WILLERT The Associated Press

OKLAHOMA CITY — Shai Gilgeous-Alexander pounced on another opportunity to thrive against his former team.

Gilgeous-Alexander – part of the blockbuster July 2019 trade that brought perennial All-Star Paul George to the Clippers (and lured free agent Kawhi Leonard to come join him) – scored 31 points and the Oklahoma City Thunder beat the Clippers, 129-107, on Thursday night in a matchup of Western Conference contenders.

Lu Dort added 19 points, Jalen Williams had 18 and Chet Holmgren 17 for Oklahoma City. The Thunder won the season series with the Clippers (securing a tiebreaker advantage) and improved to 38-17 to move within a game of Western Conference-leading Minnesota.

Gordon Hayward played 14 minutes in his first game with the Thunder since being acquired in a trade with Charlotte. He missed both of his shots and had four rebounds.

Kawhi Leonard scored 20 points and Norman Powell added 19 points for the third-place Clippers, who fell to 36-18.

Both teams were playing for the first time since the All-Star break. The game featured a return to Oklahoma City for former Thunder players Paul George, James Harden and Russell Westbrook.

Gilgeous-Alexander, the NBA’s second-leading scorer, had 19 points on 7-for-10 shooting to help the Thunder take a 61-59 lead at halftime. Powell had 14 off the bench to keep the Clippers close.

Oklahoma City took control early in the second half behind nine points from Isaiah Joe, who started the third quarter in place of Josh Giddey. Joe’s third dunk of the quarter put the Thunder ahead 81-74 with 5:59 left.

A Giddey 3-pointer gave the Thunder a 91-79 advantage and the lead grew to 96-79 on a jumper by Gilgeous-Alexander with 35.2 seconds left in the quarter.

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The Clippers cut it to 111-99 on Powell’s jumper with 6:08 left in the fourth quarter, but Oklahoma City outscored them 18-8 the rest of the way.