By INGLEWOOD, CA — The Intuit Dome arena erupted as 2Pac's "California Love" blasted through the speakers.
But Shai Gilgeous-Alexander wasn't feeling that affection from a city he began his NBA career in. He certainly didn't feel it from the rim, which denied him of a game-winning shot against his former franchise.
With the final seconds winding down and the OKC Thunder trailing the Los Angeles Clippers by one point, Gilgeous-Alexander gathered a pass in the corner. He took one dribble before releasing a stepback triple over Derrick Jones Jr., only to see it bounce out.
That sealed OKC's 113-112 road loss, extending its losing streak to three games. It's a brutal deficit for the Thunder (8-5) and Gilgeous-Alexander, who scored a game-high 40 points.
Here are three takeaways from the loss:
Nikola Topić has the potential to be a good player, not just a good story
Mark Daigneault was quick to speak highly of Nikola Topić's character during his pregame media availability.
It's impossible not to, considering how the 21-year-old guard has handled the start of his NBA career. He has already overcome a partially torn ACL in his left knee, chemotherapy for testicular cancer and back surgery since being selected by OKC with the No. 12 pick in the 2024 draft.
But with Topić set to make his season debut Friday after ramping up with a pair of G League appearances, Daigneault didn't just praise the point guard for his character. He also made sure to praise his game.
“I think he’s a really good player," Daigneault said. "That’s the other thing. Amidst all of this other stuff that has put a focus on his character as a person and a worker, the guy can really play. He’s got a great sense for the game. He’s got a high IQ. He gets guys shots. Defensively, he’s got size and anticipation skills. So we’re excited to get him.
"Obviously, his conditioning is not at a 30-minute level. He hasn’t played, I think, more than 15 minutes in these G League games. But we think there’s a really good player in there, so we’re looking forward to getting on that track from here.”
Daigneault wasted no time calling Topić's number, as he subbed in with 7:03 left in the first quarter. And the young guard wasted no time showing some of those skills his coach pointed out.
Topić showed good awareness on defense, intercepting passing lanes and even hitting the deck for a loose ball. He also showed natural passing instincts and a willingness to battle on the boards. That helped him finish with four rebounds, three assists and two steals in 14 minutes on 0-for-4 shooting from the field (0 for 2 from deep).
Conditioning is understandably a work in progress for Topić, who played 15 minutes just like he did during his G League appearances. But it was a step in the right direction for someone who has faced multiple setbacks throughout the past few years.
Shai Gilgeous-Alexander found his spots, found success with 40-piece
Gilgeous-Alexander extended his right arm repeatedly, mimicking a layup motion.
He was frustrated with himself for not sinking a scoop shot at the rim midway through the first quarter. This is one of the most efficient scorers in all of basketball that we're talking about, after all. Someone who rarely needs a second take, despite what his jersey number suggests.
But Gilgeous-Alexander trusts his game too much to have his confidence shaken. That's why he attacked the rim once again during the following quarter, and this time he slipped past his defender before getting a layup to drop.
Gilgeous-Alexander continued to find his spots throughout the night, from the elbow to the baseline to the restricted area. And, more often than not, he found success when he did.
The two-time reigning MVP finished with 40 points on 15-for-26 shooting from the field (57.7%) and 2 for 4 shooting from deep (50%) in 38 minutes.
It was a bounce-back performance by Gilgeous-Alexander, who wasn't very efficient during OKC's recent two losses to Portland. He averaged 28.5 points but went 40.5% from the field and 0% from deep.
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3-point disparity remains an issue for OKC
Jared McCain sports a smile like it's part of his uniform. His pearly whites match every jersey and every occasion.
And he had an especially-good reason to showcase his smile midway through the third quarter. It was a natural reaction after releasing a 3-pointer that bounced off the rim, sailed high in the air and somehow fell through the basket.
Everything was going right for McCain, who helped OKC erase a 13-point deficit to begin the third quarter. And by the end of it, the whole team was smiling.
McCain raced up the floor in the closing seconds and splashed a 30-foot triple as the buzzer sounded, giving the Thunder a 2-point lead. That capped off a 17-point quarter by the 22-year-old guard, who went 5 for 6 from deep (83.3%) during that stretch.
It was a sensational shooting display by McCain. And while it helped OKC win the game, it still wasn't enough to help it win the 3-point battle. The Thunder went 11 for 35 from distance (31.4%), while the Clippers went 16 for 41 (39%).
Three-point disparity has been an issue for OKC all season. It ranked 28th in average made 3-pointers (11.0) and 27th in average opponent made 3-pointers (14.8) entering Friday's game. That's an average differential of negative-3.8, which only trails New Orleans (negative-5.0) for the worst in the league.
Thunder at Kings
TIPOFF: 8 p.m. Sunday at Golden 1 Center in Sacramento, California (Thunder+, KSBI)
Justin Martinez covers the Thunder and NBA for The Oklahoman. Have a story idea for Justin? He can be reached at jmartinez@oklahoman.com or on X/Twitter at @Justintohoops. Sign up for the Thunder Sports Minute newsletter to access more NBA coverage. Support Justin's work and that of other Oklahoman journalists by purchasing a digital subscription today at subscribe.oklahoman.com.
This article originally appeared on Oklahoman: LA Clippers survive OKC Thunder rally as Shai Gilgeous-Alexander misses shot at buzzer
https://sports.yahoo.com/articles/la-clippers-survive-okc-thunder-062538288.html
