Thunder Mitchslap the Clippers, 131-108

BOX SCORE

Coming off that Pelicans game, it was pretty likely the Thunder were going to play Sunday’s game against the Clippers with energy and focus. The question was if it would all be properly directed, or if that it would result in a much-needed win.

But right before Doc Rivers addressed reporters pregame, a press release had been sent out announcing Blake Griffin was out because of an infection in his elbow, with an unclear timetable. It was a clear break for the Thunder, one in which they’re happy to accept given their current circumstance.

It left the already reeling Clippers depleted, only having an unusually hot Spencer Hawes to carry their suddenly anemic offense. With Kevin Durant torching Matt Barnes, it really felt like only a matter of time before the Thunder put the Clippers away.

And it all started when Mitch McGary sprinted his way into our hearts forever.

Making his first real appearance in the Thunder rotation, mainly because Kendrick Perkins was suspended for Sunday’s game, the Thunder rookie didn’t just provide a spark in the box score. But he made his presence felt tangentially all over, with a clear bond built behind his unselfish, unrelenting, enthusiastic energy for the game. The Thunder almost immediately went on a run upon his introduction, and eventually wore down the Clippers with a bombastic third quarter. With Durant, McGary and Reggie Jackson all doing things already, once Russell Westbrook finally snapped out of his early slump, the Thunder poured it on. The lead ballooned to much as 28 and left what could’ve been impressive statistical nights all around to sit and rest on the bench in the fourth quarter.

“I just loved his energy, his enthusiasm, his passion for the game,” Durant said of McGary. “He did everything coach needed him to do. He rolled to the basket strong, finished, made plays for us. I’m excited for him. We want him to build on it and keep getting better. We know that this is really his first time getting his feet wet with big time minutes in a game so we want him to build on it. We know it’s going to be up and down, just like for any reason that plays in this league, but he’s really strong, skilled and can play.”

McGary’s breakout is the story from this specific game, but for some reason, it feels a little bigger than that to me. Some of it needs context, in that the Clippers’ bench is horrible and got even more horrible without Griffin or Glen Davis, who left in the second quarter with back spasms. This Thunder season needs some kind of a spark, a jumpstart moment that kicks off a big run on the schedule. There’s no question the Thunder performed today, but they also had fun. They all rallied around McGary’s big day, feeding off that energy to blitz the Clippers.

Obviously there’s a lot of context here with Griffin’s absence, but I don’t remember too many people feeling much pity for the Thunder as Durant (and Westbrook) sat game after game. As Thunder fans have been well versed in this season, it’s truly part of the game. You have to take what’s given, and the Thunder took down the Clippers with ease. They’re back over .500, teasing us that maybe THIS is the real time they get going. The other times, there was a severe setback, as in Durant sprained his toe. This time, even with Steven Adams’ injury, the Thunder have the power to finally push ahead. Maybe?

NOTES:

• McGary in 23 minutes: 19 points on 8-9 shooting and 10 rebounds.

• I think I wrote it over the summer, but the Thunder are very high on McGary. There are some that think eventually, he could be their starting center. Obviously Adams’ development has a lot to do with that, but McGary clearly has something to add. Offensive awareness, passing, hustle, energy, and all that stuff. In training camp, there was really no question that McGary was going to fit into the rotation somewhere. Then he broke his foot, came back, hurt his shin, and it’s been a process getting him back ready and up to speed.

• This gives me an opportunity to tell my favorite McGary story again: At media day, Durant was talking about how McGary was an “All-American teammate” and said that when he was just shooting around on one of the courts at OKC’s practice facility, McGary was on the other court doing his workout, but yelling out, “Great shot Kev!” when he’d make one. Cracks me up picturing that.

• It’s only one game, but with what McGary showed as Perk sat, the trade deadline could be interesting. I had that typed and then Adams hurt his hand, which means Perk may be starting the next however many games. This season, man.

• I don’t have any info yet as to what the specifics are other than it’s a right hand injury. Durant came over to Adams when he was shooting free throws and Adams appeared to point at one of his fingers. He had a huge ice pack on his hand postgame.

• Adams stayed in the game to shoot his free throws, so that he could potentially return if he was able, but had to shoot them left handed. His first was a Roberson-level airball, but he second? Perfect swish.

• You know what was clever by Scott Brooks? That he put in Perry Jones just to take the foul on DeAndre Jordan so Adams could leave the game. Didn’t want to waste a foul on one of his regular rotation guys. On his feet thinking, there.

• Where does McGary fit in going forward? “He’s going get opportunities,” Scott Brooks said. “We liked what we saw tonight. He was ready. And he’s going to have to be ready throughout the rest of this season.”

• Somebody tweeted McGary is the basketball Gronk. He’s obviously not one of the league’s best players like Gronk is, but the idea works. I see him kind of as a Bro Tim Tebow.

• Durant shook off that rough fourth quarter from Friday to torch Matt Barnes, scoring 29 points in 29 minutes on 10-15 shooting plus five rebounds and six assists.

• Westbrook started out 0-8 shooting, but finally knocked down a shot in the second quarter. He finished 6-19, scoring 19 points plus 11 rebounds and five assists.

• Quietly, Dion Waiters had a nice game: 16 points on 5-10, three rebounds and three assists. Knocked down a good catch-and-shoot 3. But he did miss the most wide open one in NBA history, even after he took an unnecessary dribble to set up.

• Jamal Crawford found himself in Andre Roberson’s cage for a lot of this game. He finished with 21 on 8-20, but got a lot of that in garbage time.

• No Anthony Morrow today who had a sore right shoulder.

• Hey, Reggie Jackson! He played 24 minutes and was 6-6 from the floor with 15 points and six assists. After he made his first shot, he seemed to really relax.

• Brooks was asked a very direct question about Jackson’s situation and he entirely side-stepped it. I started to transcribe it but it’s so un-insightful that it’s not worth it. Mostly, “that’s something I don’t even think about, I just focus on getting all of our guys to play hard blah blah blah.”

• I didn’t catch your name, but shouts out to the Thunder fan all the way from Singapore at today’s game.

• Bubba Watson was at the game today, sitting courtside with KD’s people. They’ve become friends the last couple of years.

• Jeremy Lamb Garbage Time Player is not very bad at all. In fact, I’m still not convinced Jeremy Lamb Regular Rotation Player is bad either. I’m just not, OK!

• Man, that Pelicans game. A win there and it really would look like the Thunder were finally kicking it on. It’s hard not to feel like those kinds of losses are going to be what defines the season, not these impressive performances where the Thunder look like themselves. Still, the schedule isn’t especially difficult in the immediate future and there are a number of home games. Big opportunity ahead.

Next up: At the Nuggets on Monday