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Thunder, Clippers both aiming to climb out of basement

Nov 19, 2008 - 11:20 AM LA Clippers (1-9) at Oklahoma City (1-10) 8:00 p.m. EST

OKLAHOMA CITY (Ticker) -- The worst teams in the Western Conference square off on Wednesday when the Oklahoma City Thunder host the Los Angeles Clippers.

The Thunder have lost their last eight games since forging their only win of the campaign, 88-85, over the Minnesota Timberwolves on November 2. Oklahoma City has scored over 100 points once during its slide but has allowed opponents to eclipse triple digits six times.

Kevin Durant, the reigning Rookie of the Year, scored 29 points and added seven rebounds on Monday, but it wasn't enough as the Thunder dropped a 100-89 decision to the Houston Rockets.

"Its tough, we are always in the game, but it's like we black out for six or seven minutes," Durant said. "Next thing you know, we are down by 20."

"We play brilliant basketball for moments in time. We share the basketball, move without the ball, defend soundly and rebound," Thunder head coach P.J. Carlesimo said. "Then, we go 180 degrees away from that and settle for jump shots, and forget that we have to play both ends of the floor."

The Clippers were on the verge of winning their second game of the season on Monday, using a13-2 run to tie the score with just over a minute left against the San Antonio Spurs.

However, Los Angeles failed to score in the closing moments and Roger Mason buried a 3-pointer with 8.4 seconds left to send the Spurs to a 86-83 victory.

"I've been in this position with a losing team before, and it's not fun," said Clippers center Chris Kaman, who had 17 points and 13 rebounds against San Antonio. "Right now, we're just trying to keep it together and we're doing a good job (of it).

"Everyone is on the same page still. We just need to keep playing hard and we are going to get a win."