The LA Clippers travel to face the Oklahoma City Thunder on Sunday, Oct. 25 at 7 p.m. ET, with the unbeaten Thunder looking to open 3-0 against a Clippers team already missing five rotation players to injury. This Clippers vs Thunder preview breaks down the records, injury situations and projected starters for the first meeting between the two clubs this season. Oklahoma City sits at 2-0 and atop the Northwest Division, while LA is 1-1 and coming off a loss to the Lakers.
Clippers Vs Thunder Game Information
- Date: Sunday, Oct. 25
- Time: 7 p.m. ET
- Venue: Paycom Center, Oklahoma City, OK
- TV/Streaming: NBA League Pass, ClipperVision, KSBI, Thunder App
- Series: First meeting of the 2026-27 season
How Banged Up Are The Clippers Heading Into Oklahoma City?
LA is without five players, including forward Brandon Ingram, who is out following heel surgery, and guard Bradley Beal, sidelined with right knee inflammation. Both have return dates listed as Nov. 8. Guard Max Strus, who suffered a right foot plantar fasciitis injury, carries the same return window, as does center Yanic Konan Niederhauser, who is recovering from foot surgery. Guard Jordan Miller is out with a shoulder injury and is not expected back until March 2027.
With that group sidelined, Darius Garland leads the Clippers in scoring at 28.0 points per game, while Brook Lopez paces the rebounding at 7.5 per game and Kris Dunn leads the team with 6.0 assists per game.
What Does Oklahoma City’s Injury Report Look Like?
The Thunder list three players out. Guard Otega Oweh is recovering from right leg Achilles surgery with a return date in July 2027. Guard Nikola Topic, who had back surgery, and center Thomas Sorber, recovering from knee surgery, both carry a listed return date of Oct. 26, one day after this game.
Despite the absences, Oklahoma City has won its first two games of the season behind reigning scoring and defensive standouts. Shai Gilgeous-Alexander leads the Thunder with 24.5 points, 3.5 assists, 1.5 steals and 2.0 blocks per game, while Chet Holmgren tops the rebounding chart at 12.0 per game.
Which Teams Are Trending Hotter Entering Sunday?
Oklahoma City has won three of its last five games, including a 96-84 result over Denver on Oct. 23 and a 116-104 win at San Antonio on Oct. 21. The Thunder’s lone recent setbacks came in a 113-110 road loss at Atlanta and a 116-89 blowout defeat at Houston. The Clippers have won three of their last five as well, highlighted by a 121-96 rout of Sacramento on Oct. 22, but they dropped their most recent game 125-117 at the Lakers on Oct. 24, a result detailed in Total Apex Sports’ coverage of that matchup.
Oklahoma City’s defense has been the separator early. The Thunder are averaging 9.5 blocks per game compared to the Clippers’ 4.5, and Oklahoma City’s two-point field goal percentage sits at 46.6% as a team. LA, by contrast, is shooting 58.1% on two-pointers and averaging 119.0 points per game, well above Oklahoma City’s 106.0 scoring average through two contests.
What Is The Key Matchup To Watch?
The clearest matchup to track is Oklahoma City’s interior defense against a Clippers offense that has shot well but turned the ball over at a high rate. The Thunder are averaging 9.5 blocks per game as a team, with Holmgren alone contributing to that number while also leading Oklahoma City on the glass at 12.0 rebounds per game. LA is averaging 21.0 turnovers per game, nearly double Oklahoma City’s 11.5, a gap that could determine whether the Clippers’ 50.9% team shooting translates into enough possessions to keep pace. With Ingram, Beal and Strus all unavailable, LA’s offense leans heavily on Garland’s scoring and Dunn’s playmaking to generate clean looks against a defense that has already forced extended droughts in wins over Denver and San Antonio.
What To Watch
Oklahoma City can become the last unbeaten team in the Northwest Division with a win, having already shared the 2-0 mark with Minnesota and Portland. For the Clippers, the game is an early measuring stick against a projected rotation missing five contributors, following a 1-1 start detailed in Total Apex Sports’ recap of the Clippers’ season-opening win over the Kings. Sunday marks the first meeting between the two teams this season, with the next Clippers game following shortly after as LA continues its early-season stretch.
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