INGLEWOOD, Calif. — On Saturday night, Shai Gilgeous-Alexander led the Oklahoma City Thunder to a 105-92 victory over the Los Angeles Clippers, scoring 25 points and helping the Thunder maintain their perfect record at the start of the season. This triumph elevated the team’s win streak to six games, marking their most successful start since relocating from Seattle to Oklahoma City in 2008.

Each member of the starting lineup for the Thunder contributed in a significant way, with all five players finishing the game in double digits. Meanwhile, the Clippers struggled to secure a win in their new arena, falling to 0-4 despite having held leads of ten or more points in all their home games this season. Norman Powell led the Clippers with 24 points, while James Harden recorded 12 points along with 13 rebounds. Clippers coach Tyronn Lue ultimately decided to pull his starters from the game with just over four minutes remaining, signaling a surrender in the contest.

Takeaways from the matchup highlighted the Thunder’s adaptability. Coach Mark Daigneault had previously praised the Clippers for their aggressive defensive style, but Gilgeous-Alexander turned the tables with an impressive performance, scoring 23 of his points within the second and third quarters, making a strong case for his MVP candidacy early in the season.

The Clippers started strong with their shooting from beyond the arc, sinking eight three-pointers in the opening quarter. However, their accuracy fizzled afterward, with the team managing only three successful shots from 16 attempts (18.8%) for the rest of the game. A pivotal moment came late in the third when Aaron Wiggins connected on a crucial three-pointer to give the Thunder an 81-78 advantage, followed by an explosive start to the fourth quarter where they scored the first seven points to extend their lead.

Interestingly, the game reflected Ralph Lawler’s “Lawler’s Law,” asserting that the team reaching 100 points first would usually come out on top. The Thunder were able to fulfill this promise at the Intuit Dome, making them the first team to attain that milestone at the venue. Despite hitting the century mark, the Clippers remained winless in their home games.

Looking ahead, the Thunder will host the Orlando Magic on Monday, while the Clippers will try to break their losing streak as they face the San Antonio Spurs on the same evening.