The LA Clippers have dropped to an overall record of 6-21 with no hope in sight.
Regardless of who the Clippers have gone against this season, the story has remained the same. Whether it's the lowly Memphis Grizzlies or the number-one-seeded Oklahoma City Thunder, the Clippers look competitive for a half and then completely collapse in one quarter.
On Thursday night against the Oklahoma City Thunder, that trend continued. The end result was a final score of 122-101 in a game where the Clippers looked competitive for about 30 minutes.
How Bad Was the Clippers' Third Quarter?
With 4:25 left in the third quarter, the LA Clippers were only down 83-76 against the OKC Thunder. However, by the end of the quarter, they found themselves by a whopping 20 points, 103-83. They trailed by as many as 23 points during that short span of time.
In quite literally only four minutes, the Clippers found themselves outclassed and out of the game despite being competitive for the 30 minutes. As surprising as it seems, it shouldn't be surprising as the Clippers are one of the worst third-quarter teams in the NBA, and the OKC Thunder are one of the best.
In the third quarter alone, Shai Gilgeous-Alexander put up 19 points, 3 assists, and 2 steals on 63.6% shooting from the field.
Shockingly, the Clippers were even worse in the second quarter compared to the third quarter. In the second quarter, LAC was outscored 22-37, and in the third quarter, they were outscored 28-39.
What's Next for the Clippers?
After the loss, the Clippers now find themselves with an overall record of 6-21. The team is now on a five-game losing streak and is 1-10 over their last 11 games. If the team is incapable of beating a very shorthanded Memphis Grizzlies team at home, it's hard to see where exactly they get a win next.
It doesn't get any easier for the Clippers with their upcoming games. Over their next five games, the Clippers face the Los Angeles Lakers, Houston Rockets, Portland Trail Blazers, Detroit Pistons, and Sacramento Kings. One would argue that the Clippers should have a shot against the Kings, but anything is possible when LA has lost 3-0 to the Grizzlies.
While the Clippers were missing James Harden against the Oklahoma City Thunder, they weren't winning even when they had him. It's hard to see where the silver lining is with this team, which desperately misses having a player of Norman Powell's caliber on the roster.