The Oklahoma City Thunder (59-12) survived a tense, back-and-forth battle in the fourth quarter and escaped with a narrow 103-101 victory over the Los Angeles Clippers (40-31) on March 24.
Oklahoma City Thunder Top Performers:
Shai Gilgeous-Alexander 26 PTS | 8 AST | 2 BLK | 49.6 FPS
SGA struggled badly today, but his flawless 11-for-11 performance from the free-throw line has helped keep his production strong. He’s been on an exceptional run this month, scoring 25+ points in ten games, including three 40+ point performances. Throughout it all, he’s continued to excel in both playmaking and defense. However, with the team’s playoff spot already secured, it’s likely that he’ll begin to sit out some games moving forward.
Isaiah Hartenstein 14 PTS | 10 REB | 6 AST | 47.0 FPS
Hartenstein’s defensive play has been notably inconsistent recently, but in the two games without Holmgren, he’s turned up his performance, recording 2 steals and 3 blocks in each outing. Despite the ups and downs, he’s continued to be a valuable contributor at his position, posting his fourth consecutive and seventh double-double of the month.
Alex Caruso 14 PTS | 6 REB | 5 AST | 33.7 FPS
Caruso was moved to the starting lineup today with Holmgren sidelined and delivered a solid all-around performance. While he’s had some strong scoring games this month, his true value lies on the defensive end. His ability to contribute across multiple areas also makes him an intriguing streaming option, but only when a key player is unavailable.
Jaylin Williams 12 PTS | 7 REB | 1 BLK | 26.4 FPS
Williams recently had a strong triple-double and has continued to perform at a high level in his last two games despite limited minutes. He’s been very productive in field goals, three-pointers, and rebounding, while also consistently scoring in double digits. He’s a player to monitor for now, but he’ll likely become a strong streaming option as key players start seeing reduced minutes or miss games.
Aaron Wiggins 19 PTS | 3 3PM | 3 REB | 23.1 FPS
Wiggins recorded his third straight double-digit scoring performance after struggling during a recent four-game stretch. He has also seen an increase in his role lately, but his fantasy value lies mostly in scoring and three-pointers.
Los Angeles Clippers Top Performers:
Kawhi Leonard 25 PTS | 10 REB | 1 BLK | 45.5 FPS
Leonard played 40 minutes for the second time this season, and with a favorable schedule ahead, he’s poised to play in all three games next week. He’s been performing at a high level this month, scoring 20+ points in nine of his last ten games. Additionally, he’s been a reliable rebounder, grabbing 10 rebounds in each of his last two games, all while maintaining solid contributions in assists and defense. Yet, he could still raise his output by improving his three-point shooting and free-throw production. On top of that, Leonard is expected to shoulder an even larger offensive load with Harden injured.
Ivica Zubac 15 PTS | 11 REB | 2 BLK | 37.7 FPS
Big Zu has been an elite and consistent double-double force this month, recording his 11th double-double, including five games with 20+ points and five games with 14+ rebounds.
James Harden 17 PTS | 5 REB | 8 AST | 32.0 FPS
Harden delivered another strong performance today and moved up to the 11th spot on the all-time scoring list, but it came at the cost of an injury. He took a knee to the thigh from Dort in the third quarter, which caused him to roll his ankle, and he didn’t look the same for the rest of the game. It’s possible he could miss a couple of games, which could prove critical as the team is currently locked in a tight race for the sixth seed. Prior to this, he had been on a hot streak, scoring 25+ points in eight of his last nine games, with strong contributions from the free-throw line and across four other categories.
Derrick Jones Jr. 9 PTS | 4 REB | 3 BLK | 24.3 FPS
Jones has been a consistent part of the rotation and has had a few solid scoring games this month. He’s also been contributing solidly in blocks lately. While his overall numbers don’t yet warrant a roster spot, he could see an uptick in production if Harden misses time.
Kris Dunn 7 PTS | 3 REB | 1 STL | 15.1 FPS
Dunn has stayed in the starting lineup despite limited impact. With Harden sidelined, he’s well-positioned to step into a bigger role in the coming games.
Biggest Disappointment of the Game:
Norman Powell 9 PTS | 4 REB | 1 STL
Powell’s return after missing 12 games didn’t go as smoothly as expected. He may still need time to fully adjust, but his increasing minutes are a positive sign. If you can, hold onto him for now.
