OKLAHOMA CITY, Okla. — The Oklahoma City Thunder go for a 3-0 start Sunday night when they host a short-handed LA Clippers team in Oklahoma City, with tipoff set for 6 p.m. Central.
Oklahoma City has opened with wins at San Antonio, 116-104 on Oct. 21, and at home over Denver, 96-84 on Oct. 23. The Clippers are 1-1 and playing the night after a 125-117 loss to the Lakers in Los Angeles.
LA arrives without five players. Brandon Ingram is out after heel surgery and Bradley Beal has right knee inflammation, and both carry a Nov. 8 return date. Max Strus is out with a right foot injury, center Yanic Konan Niederhauser is recovering from foot surgery, and a shoulder problem has guard Jordan Miller sidelined until March.
That leaves the scoring load to Darius Garland, who is averaging 28 points a game. Brook Lopez leads the Clippers in rebounds and Kris Dunn in assists.
The Thunder have their own absences. Guard Otega Oweh is out for the season after Achilles surgery, and guard Nikola Topic and center Thomas Sorber are listed as day to day with back and knee issues. Shai Gilgeous-Alexander is averaging 24.5 points, while Chet Holmgren is pulling down 12 rebounds a game.
Defense and ball security could decide it. Oklahoma City is blocking 9.5 shots a game, more than double LA’s 4.5, and the Clippers are turning it over 21 times a night, nearly twice the Thunder’s 11.5.
Oklahoma City went 64-18 last season, including 34-8 at home, while the Clippers finished 42-40. Sunday is the first of the teams’ meetings this season.
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