Shai Gilgeous-Alexander Praises Keaton Wagler After Clippers-Thunder

The Los Angeles Clippers picked up one of their best wins of the season on Friday, beating the Oklahoma City Thunder 113-112 in an NBA Cup game at Intuit Dome.

Guard Shai Gilgeous-Alexander scored 40 points for the Thunder but missed a 21-foot jumper in the final seconds that would have won it, and after the game, he talked about one of the young players who beat him.

The Clippers led 57-44 at halftime, but Oklahoma City won the third quarter 40-25 and was up 112-106 with 2:43 left. The Clippers then closed on a 7-0 run, and guard Darius Garland put them ahead for good with a three-point play with 50.4 seconds left. Center Brook Lopez led the way with 26 points, and Garland added 24.

Shooting guard Keaton Wagler, the No. 5 pick in the 2026 NBA Draft, gave the team a big lift off the bench with 14 points on 4-of-7 shooting.

He made two of his five threes, hit all four of his free throws and was a plus-6 in 18 minutes.

Head coach Tyronn Lue was happy with how his team kept fighting, and Wagler had a lot to do with that.

Gilgeous-Alexander was asked about Wagler after the game, and he had plenty to say.

"He's a good player. He has good feel. Can really shoot. Usually when you have those things, the game will slow down for you eventually. He's in a good situation where he can play a lot. There's good coaches over there, so he'll learn the game the right way. As long as he works hard, he should have a long runway to be whoever he wants to be."

He also said it is an honor to see young players like Wagler come into the league looking up to him.

That means a lot coming from one of the best guards in the league, and I think he is right about the game slowing down.

Through 11 games, all off the bench, Wagler is averaging 12.4 points, 3.4 rebounds and 3.2 assists, but he is shooting just 34.8% from the field, so Friday was a good look at what he can be when the shots fall.

At 3-8 and 13th in the West, the Clippers have won two of their last three games, and they need young players like Wagler to grow up fast.

That is even more true with forward Brandon Ingram still working back from heel surgery and a partially torn Achilles and guard Bradley Beal out with a right knee injury.

Wagler's role has not always been steady, and Lue even apologized for not playing him enough earlier this month.

Gilgeous-Alexander pointed to the chance to play a lot as a reason Wagler can grow, and I agree, so the Clippers should keep giving him real minutes even once Ingram returns and the rotation starts to change.

The Clippers are set to host Charlotte on Nov. 15 and Utah on Nov. 17 before a road game in San Antonio on Nov. 19, and those games give Wagler a good chance to build on this night.