Paul Pierce and the Los Angeles Clippers got the best of the Oklahoma City Thunder last Wednesday at the Staples Center, but they couldn’t replicate the magic of their previous meeting at Chesapeake Energy Arena this Wednesday.

Earlier this month, the Clips stormed back from a 22-point deficit at home to stun the Thunder. But L.A. had no such luck this time around on the road, unable to muster much momentum in the 120-108 setback on Wednesday.

“Last game had nothing to do with this game,” said point guard Chris Paul, who recorded a double-double with 12 points and 16 assists. “I didn’t even think about last game this game. This was totally different. We just never could stop them.”

Los Angeles Clippers v Oklahoma City Thunder

The Truth was held scoreless through 18 minutes with roughly a month to play until the postseason, but he contributed two rebounds, one assist and one block in the defeat.

Six Clippers reached double figures, including an excellent performance from new Clipper Jeff Green. Green joined the Clips from Memphis at the trade deadline, and he had his best output in his ninth game in Los Angeles: 10-of-13 (76.9 percent) from the field and 3-of-5 from three-point range for a team-high 23 points.

Chris Paul energized the L.A. offense throughout as he doled out 16 assists and added 12 points for a double-double, but the Clippers couldn’t keep pace with the big nights had by both Kevin Durant (30 points, 12 rebounds, seven assists) and Russell Westbrook (25 points, 19 assists, 11 rebounds).

Center DeAndre Jordan held down the fort early, totaling 10 of his 18 points in the first quarter. But a collaborative effort from the Thunder gave them a 39-29 lead to end the period.

“When we would make a run, they’d always respond,” said shooting guard J.J. Redick, who tallied 22 points with five triples. “They got off to a great start. You know, 39 points in the first quarter is unacceptable. We’ve been a good defensive team, and we were awful tonight.”

Los Angeles Clippers v Oklahoma City Thunder

Although the Clippers never led, they kept the competition close and trailed just two, 64-62, at the break. By that point, L.A. was shooting 60 percent to Oklahoma City’s 52 percent.

“I thought they played far more desperate than us tonight,” coach Doc Rivers said. “They still had to make shots. They made everything, but when you’re at halftime and you’re shooting 59 percent and you’re down two, you know that probably doesn’t look good for you.”

Green played a large part in helping L.A. recover from a 12-point hole in the second quarter, scoring six points with a blocked shot in the final two minutes. The small forward continued to roll in the third, nailing back-to-back triples to knot it at 68-all.

L.A. would tied it twice more before Oklahoma City scored 10 unanswered on its way to taking a 93-83 lead into the fourth quarter. With a raucous crowd behind it, OKC closed strong. Westbrook had four assists, Durant had eight points, and the team shot 55 percent to end any hope for a Clipper rally.

“They got a little bit of everything tonight,” CP3 said. “They got shots they wanted, they got threes, they got layups. They got a little bit of everything.”

The clubs will meet once more in Oklahoma City on Mar. 31.

WESTERN CONFERENCE STANDINGS – MAR. 11

1. x – Golden State Warriors (57-6)
2. x – San Antonio Spurs (55-10) 3 GB
3. Oklahoma City Thunder (44-20) 13.5 GB
4. Los Angeles Clippers (41-22) 16 GB
5. Memphis Grizzlies (38-26) 19.5 GB
6. Portland Trail Blazers (34-31) 24 GB
7. Dallas Mavericks (33-32) 25 GB
8. Houston Rockets (32-32) 25.5 GB

(x – Clinched playoff berth)

NEXT UP

The Clippers (41-22) return to L.A. for two games before hitting the road for five. They’ll start by welcoming the New York Knicks (27-39) to the Staples Center, with hopes of sweeping the series, 2-0.

In their latest meeting, L.A. rocked New York, 116-88, on Jan. 22. The loss snapped a six-game winning streak at home for the Knicks, their longest of the season. The Knicks have compiled a 5-16 record since then, most recently beating the Phoenix Suns (17-47) on Wednesday, 128-97. Small forward Carmelo Anthony, who leads the Knicks in points (21.8), rebounds (8), assists (4.2) and steals (0.9), scored 23 points in the contest.

Friday’s game with the Clippers can be viewed on NBATV, with tipoff set for 7:30 p.m. PT.

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