On Thursday night, the LA Clippers were defeated by the Oklahoma City Thunder 116-98 at Paycom Center in one of their worst performances of the season. The game plan didn’t align with the Thunder as several players struggled when the Clippers needed them most.

Additionally, in the absence of franchise superstar Kawhi Leonard, it is relatively impossible to win games without former MVP James Harden. He is the heart and soul of the Clippers on both sides of the ball, while head coach Tyronn Lue strategizes with his skills. This explains the Clippers’ 19 wins this season.

However, fans were hoping that Premier goalscorer Norman Powell would step up and lead his side to victory. This was a realistic expectation as he has delivered countless times this season. In contrast, things went poorly for the Clippers, especially in the third quarter when the Thunder took the win.

In addition, Powell scored six points and six turnovers while shooting 1-for-11 from the field and 0-for-5 from distance. This is a rare scene from the former UCLA Bruin, as he typically scores high with some of the best efficiency numbers in the entire league. Additionally, Powell posted a team-low +/- of -26.

The LA Clippers gave up all the momentum before halftime, which led to the Thunder picking up the pace in the third quarter and winning the game.

When the LA Clippers jumped out to a 16-point lead midway through the second quarter, fans immediately jumped to the conclusion that they would win and tie the season. Unfortunately, they were wrong, as the Thunder are the top seed in the Western Conference for a reason.

Oklahoma City came back to life and made it a four-point game before halftime, setting up a stellar third quarter finish. This happened right as the Thunder scored 40 points after halftime. They were ahead by 18 points until the last frame and managed the turnaround with 22 points in just 12 minutes of play.

The Clippers’ best player was Amir Coffey, one of their best three-point shooters. He performed with confidence and poise, scoring 26 points on an efficient 10-14 from the floor. Sophomore Jordan Miller also made an effort off the bench with 10 points, five assists and three steals.

Still, Coffey and Miller’s contributions weren’t enough and the Clippers were sent home with a loss. They received little from their best player, making it difficult to win on the road against a top 2 team in the NBA.

However, the Clippers return home to face the Atlanta Hawks for the first time this season. No matter what it takes, Lue needs a win as the loss to Oklahoma City forced them into seventh place.