After starting the season 0-4, the Clippers – along with new Head Coach Vinny Del Negro – won their first game of the season against the Oklahoma City Thunder at Staples Center.
In the first four games, LA (1-4) shot dismally, but turned it around this time while concurrently, the Thunder (2-2) went 34-90 from the field and 4-26 from the three-point line in tonight’s loss.
The one-two-three punch for the Clippers was a third-year player, a rookie and a technical rookie. Eric Gordon led all scorers with 27 points while Eric Bledsoe – starting in favor of the injured Baron Davis – had 17 points and eight assists and Blake Griffin, who missed all of last year due to injury, had 18 points and nine rebounds.
Kevin Durant had a terrible night shooting for Oklahoma City, which has now lost its last two games. Durant went 6-of-24 from the field and 0-10 from 3-pt land and finished with 16 points. Jeff Green led the Thunder with 19 points and Russell Westbrook added 16.
The Clippers will next play at Denver on Friday while Oklahoma City plays at Portland tomorrow.