Quarter by Quarter observations

First Quarter

Krstic is working down low against Kaman. That's going to be the matchup for the night. If Krstic can make Kaman work for his shots and frustrate him the Thunder have a good chance of winning.

Thabo drives along the baseline and passes out to Jeff Green who misses the long three. Thabo had the easy dunk but he passes out. Shot selection is still an issue.

Good defense by Krstic forces the travel by Kaman. Krstic is doing a good job down low on defense; I think working against Etan Thomas in practice is really helping him defensively.

Durant has some active hands tonight he has gotten a piece of three passes/dribbles so far. Only one steal so far but lots of deflections.

The Clippers seem content to just post Kaman up which is working well for the Thunder so far. Krstic is doing a good job of denying him his spot on the block.

Krstic going some damage from deep, and gets the pass again on the free throw line and hits another shot he is now 3-4 and playing well on both ends of the court.

Score to end the Quarter 22-22 Tied

Second Quarter

Harden is playing well he has several deflections a steal and just has been active all over the place tonight. He is making passes and moving well without the ball.

The Thunder keep leaving their feet to challenge the Clippers three point shots and the Clippers keep ball faking them into flying right past.

Great move by Collison to get the bucket. When the Thunder move the ball they pull the defense and get lanes to drive and open shots when they don't they just don't thrive in isolation situations.

Score to finish the half 46-43 Clippers

Half

Krstic is doing a good job down low against Kaman; he is also shooting well to keep it close. Westbrook is 0-7 and has 1 assist and 2 turnovers so he needs to pick it up a bit. Kevin Ollie has been a nice surprise he has 7 points on 3-3 shooting right now. The Thunder are not playing bad but they could be playing better. I expected them to come in embarrassed after last night's showing but they seem a little lethargic so far. There is still a chance to pull this one out but Westbrook needs to step up and start making good decisions and start taking good shots.

Third Quarter

 Westbrook just got rejected by the underside of the rim. He is now 0-8 but he did get into the lane easily and should have had the dunk. I don't think he misses that shot again if he takes it 1,000 times.

Thabo helps down low on Kaman and is still able to get back out and challenge the shot by Smith. Thabo has some great range.

Westbrook makes his first basket on a good offensive rebound put back with 7 minutes left in the third quarter.

Krstic drains the shot; Kaman got a hand up but didn't affect the shot. Kaman gets the ball down low and Krstic gets the hand up and Kaman misses.

The Thunder are not getting quality shots and the Clippers are getting good opportunities down low with Kaman and at the line. This is where having that low post game really helps or hurts.

KD gets to the rack and gets the tough shot to go, and again second possession same result.

Harden takes a turn driving the ball into the lane and gets the easy bucket. The Thunder are having good success driving the ball and getting into the lane, need to keep it up and cut into this lead.

Score to finish the Quarter 69-66 Clippers

Fourth Quarter

Ibaka skies for the rebound, he is hustling out there. This road trip is the first time we have seen Ibaka unless you count summer league and he already reminds me of Westbrook last year, at times out of control and you start to say why are we playing this guy then he makes some super athletic play and you go why is he on the bench.

Jeff Green with the three to tie the game, it is good to see Jeff's shot falling when it really counts. I think Jeff Green is one of those players that really excel in crunch time.

Ollie gets into the driving seat and makes the short pull up.

Kaman is back in, while he has been out the Thunder have caught up and taken a lead. Now they have to hold it or hopefully extend it.

Ibaka versus Kaman, Ibaka goes up to challenge the shot and I swear he practically jumped over Kaman.

Kaman seems to be the primary and secondary offensive option for the Clippers right now, and he just isn't getting it done. That is two straight possessions they went to Kaman and Ibaka played some solid defense and got some help and forced the bad shot.

Ibaka played really well tonight, he might have fouled out but he provided good energy and as he gets more acclimated to the NBA he won't pick up some of those cheap fouls.

KD takes the ball on the wing the Thunder isolate him on Butler; he drives and makes the step back jumper to put the Thunder up by 2. They have regained the lead after a couple of bad possessions by giving the ball to KD and getting out of the way.

Great defense by Krstic down low on Kaman, if we win that might just be the play of the game right there. Krstic pushed him off the block and out wide before he even got the ball then forced him into the baseline and Kaman had nowhere to go, he tried to force a pass back out that was straight at Ollie.

Kevin Ollie with the shoot and miss just short enough to grab the rebound and get fouled play, that's a heady veteran move right there.

Score to finish the Game 83-79 Thunder

The Good and The Bad individually

The Good

Kevin Durant

30 points 10 rebounds and a win, that's all you can ask for. Okay maybe 5-8 from the line isn't great but hey 30 points is 30 points and it was on 12-20 shooting so I'll take it. KD also only played 36 minutes so that's good, hopefully he will be fresh late in the year.

Kevin Ollie

4-7 and 3-3 from the line, while he only had one assist he had zero turnovers so that's good. He also took the final shot and made the free throws that really put the game out of reach.

Serge Ibaka

Serge came in and really provided a lot of energy and enthusiasm he also went 2-4 and got 3 boards in 16 minutes. I am not sure why Etan was not on the court but it was good to see Ibaka get in and mix it up. As soon as he gets better defensively both as a part of the team and individually he should be able to provide some quality minutes down low.

The Bad

Westbrook went 1-11 and generally looked out of synch all night, he also looked hurt after Camby came down on his leg. Etan Thomas just disappeared, he only played 4 minutes and I really can't say why. Ibaka fouled out; it is never good when you foul out although in this case I think it was more about Serge just not knowing what is allowed and what might get called. Some of the fouls he picked up probably came as a result of him being overly enthusiastic. The energy just wasn't there early and I do not like the way we come out get down early and then have to struggle to get back into the game.