The Los Angeles Clippers (6-20) travel to face the Oklahoma City Thunder (24-2) on Thursday, December 18, at 8:00 PM ET at Paycom Center. The Clippers enter on a four-game losing streak, while the Thunder are coming off a single loss in their last two games.
Los Angeles faces major setbacks with Bradley Beal (left hip fracture), James Harden (left calf contusion), Derrick Jones Jr. (right knee sprain), Yanic Konan Niederhauser (left knee soreness), and Chris Paul unavailable.
Kawhi Leonard leads the Clippers with 25.0 points per game, while Ivica Zubac averages 16.2 points and 8.0 rebounds.
Despite injuries, the Clippers still rely on John Collins and Bogdan Bogdanovic to provide scoring and spacing. Their defense has struggled, allowing 123.1 points per game.
Oklahoma City will be without Isaiah Hartenstein (right soleus), Thomas Sorber (right ACL recovery), Nikola Topic (surgical recovery), and Jaylin Williams (right heel bursitis).
Shai Gilgeous-Alexander leads the Thunder with 32.4 points, 5.6 rebounds, and 6.4 assists per game. Chet Holmgren contributes 18.7 points and 8.4 rebounds, while Jalen Williams and Ajay Mitchell add 17.3 and 14.0 points per contest.
Oklahoma City ranks among the league’s highest-scoring teams at 123.1 points per game, creating a stark contrast against the Clippers’ depleted lineup.
This season, the teams met once on November 4, with the Thunder defeating the Clippers 126-107 at Los Angeles.
