LA Clippers – Page 2 – Syndication Server

Former Husker to hold multiple NBA pre-draft workouts

Keisei Tominaga will work out with the Sacramento Kings on Tuesday, May 28, and the LA Clippers on Thursday, May 30.

A former Nebraska basketball player has scheduled multiple workouts for the 2024 NBA draft. Keisei Tominaga will work out with the Sacramento Kings on Tuesday, May 28, and the LA Clippers on Thursday, May 30.

In 32 games last season, he averaged 15.1 points, shooting 46.6% from the field and 37.6% from the three-point line. This is not the first time that the Nagoya, Japan native has worked out for NBA teams.

He worked out for the Indiana Pacers in the run-up to the 2023 NBA draft before withdrawing and returning to Nebraska for his senior season. Projections currently have Tominaga as a second-round draft pick.

The Kings will be picking with picks No. 13 and No. 45 overall. The Clippers have only one pick in the draft, No. 46 overall in the second round.

The 2024 NBA draft will run from Wednesday, June 26, till Thursday, June 27.

Contact/Follow us @CornhuskersWire on X, and like our page on Facebook to follow ongoing coverage of Nebraska news, notes, and opinions.

Paul George listed as dream offseason target for OKC Thunder

Paul George listed as dream offseason target for the Thunder.

The Oklahoma City Thunder will enter the offseason in a better position than most to spend serious money on outside free agents.

They will have $35 million in cap space to toy with fresh off a first-place finish in the Western Conference and a second-round exit in the 2024 NBA playoffs. In theory, OKC could be big-game hunters if it chooses to deviate from its usual conservative approach.

Bleacher Report’s Andy Bailey listed one realistic and dream offseason target for each team. The Thunder’s dream target was a reunion with a former multiyear All-Star wing.

In what would be a sick twist of fate, Bailey suggests the Thunder should target LA Clippers forward Paul George. The 34-year-old will likely decline his $48.8 million player option for next season: He will command a strong market for one final massive payday.

There have already been rumblings of a possible exit from LA by George. He might be too expensive for the Clippers to sign. The franchise had the second-highest payroll last season.

As most know, George was infamously part of the 2019 blockbuster trade that helped propel the Thunder to their current championship window. Shai Gilgeous-Alexander was traded to OKC along with numerous draft picks.

The trade has already paid off. LA’s 2022 first-round pick landed OKC Jalen Williams. The 23-year-old looks to be a future All-Star wing who’ll enjoy his prime with the Thunder.

If the Thunder add George, they’ll add a veteran wing that can slide right in with the rest of the starters. He’s shown signs of decline recently, but he’s still one of the best scorers in the league and can provide the Thunder with another go-to bucket and catch-and-shoot option.

Bailey wrote about the addition, stating he’d be a monster upgrade to pair Gilgeous-Alexander with another elite two-way wing.

“How wild would it be if the Thunder pulled off the heist that landed them Shai Gilgeous-Alexander for George (among lots of other assets), and then they picked him back up for those two to play together a few years later?

They don’t have enough cap space to sign him outright, but if George could be sold on returning to OKC, they could create it (or send L.A. enough salary to offset the difference).”

In 74 games last season, George averaged 22.6 points on 47.1% shooting, 5.2 rebounds and 3.5 assists. He shot 41.3% from 3 on 7.9 attempts. He’d make the Thunder an instant title contender.

On the flip side, George’s departure would doom the Clippers. This will help the Thunder’s draft picks gain value tenfold and could be used as valuable trade chips in future deals.

George could also benefit from being rejuvenated with the Thunder. The Clippers are a sinking ship with an old, expensive roster as Kawhi Leonard has struggled to stay healthy for most of his tenure.

It likely will not happen as a George multiyear deal could cause serious ramifications on the long-term futures of Williams and Chet Holmgren, but there’s no denying it’d be a dream fit for the Thunder on the court.

[lawrence-auto-related count=3]

OKC Thunder to face Dallas Mavericks in Round 2 of 2024 NBA playoffs

OKC Thunder to face Dallas Mavericks in Round 2 of 2024 NBA playoffs.

The Oklahoma City Thunder will face the Dallas Mavericks in the second-round of the 2024 NBA playoffs.

The first-seeded Thunder swept the New Orleans Pelicans in the first round. They’ve enjoyed a week off between series as they awaited the second-round matchup.

The Mavericks clinched their series with a win over the LA Clippers in Game 6 on Friday. Luka Doncic finished with 28 points, 13 assists and seven rebounds. Kyrie Irving had 30 points on 11-of-19 shooting.

The Thunder won three of the four matchups against the Mavericks this season. OKC’s one loss was its worst defeat of the season. It came after Dallas welcomed new additions at the trade deadline.

The full second-round series schedule can be read here.

[lawrence-auto-related count=3]

OKC Thunder have enjoyed playoff luck with injuries, rest between series

OKC Thunder have enjoyed playoff luck with injuries, rest between series.

Over the last month, the Oklahoma City Thunder’s schedule has resembled an NFL team’s more than an NBA’s.

Since the Thunder’s regular-season finale on April 14, OKC have played four games in 21 days. Averaging a little over a game a week. More amazingly, they’ll go a month-plus between losses.

The Thunder enjoyed a six-day break during the play-in tournament as the first seed. After sweeping the New Orleans Pelicans, they’re enjoying another six-day break before Game 1 of the second round against either the LA Clippers or Dallas Mavericks.

Even better news? If the Mavericks and Clippers go the distance, a decisive Game 7 takes place on Sunday, May 5. This means the winner will only have one day off between series.

This could produce a scenario in which that series’ winner enters the conference semifinals hobbled. Kawhi Leonard has missed three of five playoff games with a knee injury and Luka Doncic has artistic KT tape covering his leg while playing heavy minutes.

The Thunder earned the first seed on the last day of the season with some outside help. A deep playoff run — regardless of sport — usually requires some luck.

The young Thunder have received that in the scheduling process. Massive gaps of rest give OKC a chance to recharge its batteries between physically demanding playoff matchups — even for a young squad like the Thunder.

“We’re gonna be able to get good rest, that’s a good thing,” Thunder head coach Mark Daigneault said on the ample time off. “We’re gonna play a really, really good team in really, really elevated games. We have to understand our opponent is gonna feel just like we do at the end of their series.”

Another stroke of luck involves health. Through four playoff games, the Thunder have had clean injury reports, which means no serious ailments on the roster.

Meanwhile, their first-round opponent was without its best player the entire series. Zion Williamson suffered a hamstring strain during the play-in tournament. The injury turned into a season-ender.

Without Williamson, the Pelicans struggled to score points, averaging less than 90 points in their four losses. It was painfully obvious New Orleans missed its best scorer.

On the flip side, Shai Gilgeous-Alexander tweaked his ankle in OKC’s Game 4 win but toughed it out to close the series. Daigneault said the 25-year-old will receive treatment during this break but should be ready for Game 1 of the next round.

Had the Pelicans squeezed out a Game 4 win, then who knows what Gilgeous-Alexander’s status or how limited he’d be for the rest of the series. It could’ve made for a dangerous situation where New Orleans dragged additional games out of the Thunder.

If the Thunder can stay relatively healthy the rest of the way — knock on wood — that will boost their odds of a deep playoff run. As most within the franchise know, one bad injury can derail an entire postseason’s aspirations.

A deep playoff run is certainly on the table for the young Thunder. On-court talent will be a large reason that will determine that. Another reason will be luck continuing to break their way the rest of the postseason as it has through the first round with their schedule, opponent and injuries.

[lawrence-auto-related count=3]

Bulls star Nikola Vucevic on absence of Coby White following injury

Chicago Bulls big man Nikola Vucevic talked about how much the team missed Coby White on the court on Thursday.

In the Chicago Bulls’ recent game against the Indiana Pacers, they gritted out an overtime win. DeMar DeRozan poured in 46 points in a game that they barely won. But it came at a cost. In the final seconds of regulation, Coby White was going up for a layup in transition. Pascal Siakam blocked him and sent White careening to the gound.

White exited the game, but an MRI revealed that it was only a small hip issue. However, while he won’t miss a ton of time, he was still out on Thursday night, and the Bulls fell to the LA Clippers. They missed White, as he has transformed into one of their best players this season.

After the game, Nikola Vucevic spoke about how much the team missed him. (H/t Julia Poe of the Chicago Tribune)

“It was tough,” Vucevic said. “He’s one of our best guys in the two-man game, pick and roll, one of our best shooters in general. He gets downhill, he creates a lot, he puts a lot of pressure on the rim and hits me in the pocket or kicks out inside out. So you miss a guy like that. It’s always difficult.”

Not having White will be a challenge, but the Bulls will have to push through it.

[lawrence-auto-related count=3]

Ayo Dosunmu discusses Bulls’ disappointment after loss to Clippers

After the Chicago Bulls’ loss to the LA Clippers, Ayo Dosunmu discussed their disappointment.

It’s been a solid month of March so far for the Chicago Bulls. As they attempt to push for a place in the Eastern Conference playoffs, their play is ramping up at just the right time. Unfortunately, they capped off an otherwise successful road trip with a loss on Saturday, losing 112-102 to the LA Clippers.

Heading into the game, the Bulls had won three in a row with a chance to go 4-0 on their Western Conference road trip. They took down the Sacramento Kings, Utah Jazz, and Golden State Warriors in three straight games, but they couldn’t finish off their undefeated trip.

After the loss to LA, Ayo Dosunmu discussed the Bulls’ disappointment with the loss. (H/t Julia Poe of the Chicago Tribune)

“It’s a bummer because we had the opportunity to go 4-0,” Dosunmu said. “Our confidence is high because we aren’t leaving here like it’s a moral victory. We understand we can’t get it back, but we understand we was just good enough to be right there to win this game.

Chicago is in a good spot, but they would have loved to beat the Clippers.

[lawrence-auto-related count=3]

Clippers star Paul George listed as top Spurs target in free agency

LA Clippers star Paul George was listed as a top free agency target for the San Antonio Spurs.

The San Antonio Spurs haven’t won many games this season, but that’s alright. They knew they were getting into a rebuilding year, but with Victor Wembanyama at the helm, they have a great future ahead of them. And in free agency this summer, San Antonio will have a chance to put some big-time talent next to him.

The Spurs could free up enough cap space to sign a max-contract player if they make some trades and play their cards right. And if that’s the case, they could bring in top-tier talent to help Wembanyama start winning and competing for the postseason right away.

Andy Bailey of Bleacher Report recently wrote a list of three top targets for every team, and one of the guys he named for the Spurs was LA Clippers star Paul George.

“George obviously doesn’t bring the playmaking LeBron does, but his outside shooting and perimeter defense would still make life easier for Wembanyama on both ends,” Bailey wrote.

LeBron James was also listed as a potential target.

[lawrence-auto-related count=3]

PHOTOS: Best images from Thunder’s 129-107 win over Clippers

The best photos from the Thunder’s 129-107 win over the Clippers.

The Oklahoma City Thunder clinched an important season series with a 129-107 win over the LA Clippers.

After playing it close for the first half, the Thunder’s 35-point third quarter helped them create a double-digit lead that expanded to 22 points in the fourth quarter.

Shai Gilgeous-Alexander led the way with 31 points and eight assists. Jalen Williams totaled 18 points, with 12 coming in the fourth quarter to close it out.

Meanwhile, Kawhi Leonard was limited to 20 points. Paul George struggled with 14 points on 16 shots and James Harden had a quiet 17 points.

Let’s look at some of the best photos from the Thunder’s 22-point win over the Clippers.

Player grades: Thunder clinch crucial tiebreaker with 129-107 win over Clippers

Player grades for the Thunder’s 129-107 win over the Clippers.

OKLAHOMA CITY — Running the break, Jalen Williams received the bounce pass from Shai Gilgeous-Alexander and jammed it in for the one-handed dunk that sent the energetic crowd into a frenzy. It’s only fitting that these two punctuated a pivotal victory.

The Oklahoma City Thunder collected an important 129-107 win over the LA Clippers in the first game back from the All-Star break. In the win, OKC clinched the tiebreaker over LA.

“We amped (the physicality) up pretty good at the end of the first, end of the second,” Thunder head coach Mark Daigneault said on the win. “And continued that in the second half. I thought we were really good physically and played a good game.”

The Thunder got off to a 35-33 lead following the first quarter. Entering halftime, OKC held a close 61-59 lead. The opening two quarters lived up to the hype of a heavyweight fight between two of the top teams in the league.

A 35-point third quarter by the Thunder helped them create a 12-point quarter advantage over the Clippers to enter the final frame holding a 96-82 lead with all the momentum.

The Thunder started off the fourth quarter on a 7-2 run to give them a 19-point lead with a little over nine minutes left in the contest. The closest LA would get the rest of the way was within 12 points. Clippers head coach Ty Lue surprisingly pulled the plug with a little under four minutes to go in a 16-point deficit.

OKC’s lead ballooned to a game-high 22 points and the starters eventually left the court with the active crowd — who created a playoff-esque atmosphere with a stellar showing — applauding their efforts.

The Thunder shot 56% from the field and went a sizzling 17-of-35 (48.6%) from 3. All five Thunder starters scored double-digit points with Shai Gilgeous-Alexander’s 31 points leading the way.

Jalen Williams scored 18 points, with 12 of them coming in the fourth quarter. The 22-year-old continues to command fourth quarters for OKC.

Meanwhile, the Clippers shot 45% from the field and 12-of-32 (37.5%) from 3. After starting hot, LA lost its luster as the game progressed. OKC put the defensive clamps down in the decisive third quarter, limiting the Clippers to 23 points.

The Thunder blocked seven shots in the 12-minute frame and limited the Clippers to 31% shooting in the decisive quarter.

“There’s a lot of randomness coming out of the All-Star break, so I thought it was great mental toughness by us,” Daigneault said about the third quarter. “… I thought we did a great job coming out of the break and readying ourselves for competition and diving in.

“I don’t think we saw the best version of them tonight. I wouldn’t read too much into the game outside of a good, mental test for our team that we passed.”

Kawhi Leonard led the way for LA with 20 points on 9-of-12 shooting. Outside of him, the other two Clippers stars struggled as Paul George had 14 points on 6-of-16 shooting and James Harden had 17 points on 5-of-9 shooting.

“We limited mistakes that yielded great shots for them,” Daigneault said. “They’re just too good of a team to give great shots to. I thought we were able to limit that in the second half… We forced a good team to earn what they got tonight.”

As mentioned, this was a massive game for future standings implications. Both the Thunder and Clippers have been neck and neck in the standings and that will likely continue the rest of the way as OKC holds a 1.5-game lead.

If tiebreakers are necessary, the Thunder own it over the Clippers, which could prove pivotal with home-court advantage in the playoffs.

“We have to keep pushing to get better and stretching ourselves and that starts with me,” Daigneault said. “I’m gonna continue to be aggressive about finding what’s best for our team. There’s gonna be failure along the way in doing that but it’s the only way to uncover the best version of your team.”

Let’s look at Thunder player grades.