On the way downstairs
With the T-Wolves sliding past the 76ers tonight, it became a two-team race to the cellar, and the Clippers, down as many as 15 in the second quarter and trailing by three at the half, picked up the Thunder by the scruff of their youngish necks and unceremoniously threw them down the stairs, holding OKC to a meager 16 points in the third quarter and twenty in the fourth, winning 108-88 and dropping the Thunder to 1-11.
All five Clipper starters finished in double figures. Cuttino Mobley was lethal, with 23 points and seven steals; Chris Kaman had 25 points and 14 rebounds. The Clips’ bench didn’t contribute much, but then they didn’t have to.
On the upside for Oklahoma City, they’ve figured out how to work the charity stripe: the team missed none of its 23 foul shots. Still, they were only .400 from the floor, despite four first-half treys, and both Kevin Durant and Jeff Green were held to below their season averages. The bench was mostly punchless except for Damien Wilkins, who is getting minutes in the absence of Desmond Mason; DW had 17 points, second only to Durant’s 18. The Thunder were competitive on the boards, but turned the ball over twenty times; the Clips gave it up only ten. And Chris Wilcox was back; he provided some muscle in the middle, but only four points.
The Hornets will be here Friday, and I expect there will be some nattering about The Ones Who Got Away. It won’t be from me, I hope.
Kay Dennison »
19 November 2008 · 10:45 pm
Looks like my Cavaliers are doing just fine! I am smiling.
CGHill »
20 November 2008 · 8:55 am
The Cavs are on a mission: to keep King James from bolting the fold when his contract expires after next season. Maintaining a playoff-worthy team is an important part of that mission.