October 26, 2026 at 3:27 AM UTC

Postgame Report

Thunder Hold Off Clippers 108-101 to Stay Unbeaten, but Lose Wallace and Williams to Injuries

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Shai Gilgeous-Alexander scored 34 and Oklahoma City forced 26 turnovers to move to 3-0, but Cason Wallace and Jalen Williams both left with injuries.

The Thunder came in 2-0 on the strength of an ugly 96-84 win over Denver in Thursday's home opener, and Sunday against the Clippers was cleaner without being tidy. Oklahoma City won 108-101 at home, a seven-point margin that felt tighter than the Thunder would have liked. They are 3-0, and the standard they hold themselves to is still some way off.

Shai Gilgeous-Alexander did most of the work. A few days after his run of 20-point games ended against Denver, when he shot 6 of 19 for 17 points, he scored 34 in 36 minutes, the most of anyone on the floor. He added six rebounds and five assists. Ajay Mitchell gave him real help off the bench with 18 points, and Isaiah Hartenstein had a double-double with 12 points and 12 rebounds. Alex Caruso filled in the gaps with 12 points, seven rebounds and six assists in 22 minutes.

The Clippers arrived at 1-1 and still stinging from Friday's 125-117 loss to the Lakers, and they leave 1-2. Darius Garland ran the offense for 36 minutes and produced a double-double of his own, 16 points and 11 assists. Kris Dunn scored 15 and Brook Lopez matched him in 23 minutes off the bench. Kobe Sanders added 12, and Keaton Wagler and Derrick Jones Jr. each had 11. LA stayed within reach for most of the night. It never found enough of a push to get past Gilgeous-Alexander.

The game turned in the third quarter. Oklahoma City trailed 46-43 at halftime, then outscored Los Angeles 34-30 in the third and 31-25 in the fourth. The Clippers shot better, 15 of 38 from three to the Thunder's 8 of 24, but they turned the ball over 26 times. Oklahoma City had 15 steals.

The bigger worry for Oklahoma City is the injury list. Cason Wallace left after less than six minutes with a left shoulder injury. Jalen Williams, who had 8 points and 5 assists in 32 minutes, left in the fourth quarter with an apparent leg injury after going up for a dunk.

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