• Preview
• Recap
• Bleachers
• Game Tracker

Clippers begin new era with optimism, host Thunder

Oct 30, 2014 - 1:58 PM (SportsNetwork.com) - The Los Angeles Clippers begin a new era Thursday night, the Steve Ballmer ownership era, by hosting the Oklahoma City Thunder at Staples Center.

Ballmer bought the Clippers for $2 billion after former owner Donald Sterling was caught on tape making racially-insensitive remarks. The Sterling saga took place during the Clippers' playoff push last season, one that ended in the Western Conference semifinals to the Thunder.

Neither team is the same as it was in the postseason.

For the Thunder, reigning MVP Kevin Durant is shelved with a broken foot.

"They're not going to change completely who they are, and there were actually minutes where Durant wasn't on the floor, so you can kind of watch those," head coach Doc Rivers said. "But they'll be a little different without him, obviously. They'll play a little different."

For the Clippers, the team now has solid support from ownership. The on-court product is solid with Chris Paul and Blake Griffin, both of whom finished in the top five in MVP voting last season.

The Clippers didn't have much to address in the offseason, but a backup big man was a huge priority. Spencer Hawes agreed to a four-year deal and he will open up the floor for, and spell, both Griffin and DeAndre Jordan, who led the NBA in rebounding last season.

And, despite leading the league on the glass, the Clippers were badly out- rebounded in the offseason. It's an issue Rivers and Jordan have addressed with the team.

"Rebounding's not purely athleticism," Griffin said. "It's about really going and getting it. DJ does a great job. I need to do a better job of, especially when I'm out on the perimeter guarding a stretch four or something like that, of coming back in and pursuing the ball and not leaking out. That's something I've been working on."

The Thunder try to endure without Durant. Oklahoma City fell to fellow Northwest Division rivals, the Portland Trail Blazers, 106-89, in Wednesday's season opener.

OKC built a two-point lead after three quarters, but fell apart totally in the fourth quarter. The Blazers outscored the Thunder, 31-12, over the final 12 minutes.

"Our guys played their hearts out," head coach Scott Brooks said. "We played hard. That's the only thing I can ask from the guys: to compete, play hard and play for each other. They did that tonight but we made too many mistakes at the end of the game."

Russell Westbrook, who had 36 points through three, netted just two points on 1-of-6 shooting in the fourth. He posted 26 of his 36 points in the first half, ended 11-of-26 from the field and sunk 15-of-16 foul shots for the Thunder, who lost to San Antonio in the West Finals last season.

Lance Thomas managed 14 for the second unit and Serge Ibaka chipped in 10 points, eight rebounds and four blocks.

The Thunder didn't get much from the remaining three starters - Perry Jones, Steven Adams and Andre Roberson. They combined for 17 points, but were forced into duty thanks to injuries to Durant, Reggie Jackson, Anthony Morrow and Jeremy Lamb.

The Thunder, who shot 2-for-16 from beyond the arc on Wednesday, have won five of the last seven regular-season meetings with the Clips. Oklahoma City has won three of its last four regular-season matchups as the visitor in this series.