The Los Angeles Clippers will try to put the brakes on a three-game losing streak when they resume an eight-game road trip Sunday afternoon against the Oklahoma City Thunder.
The Clippers are 2-4 on the trek and the losing ways continued with Friday's 123-107 loss to the Toronto Raptors.
Los Angeles scored 34 points after 12 minutes of action and held the Raptors to 19 points in the period. However, Toronto scored 38 points in each of the second and third quarters, and finished 53.3 percent shooting.
"After the first 10 minutes, we just never defended again," Clippers head coach Doc Rivers said.
Blake Griffin had 26 points, nine assists and six rebounds, Chris Paul added 22 points and nine assists, and Jamal Crawford ended with 20 points for the Clippers, who shot 48.7 percent for the game and were outrebounded, 42-30.
The Clippers are 13-11 away from home and will close the trip Monday in Dallas.
In off-the-court news, Paul was fined $25,000 Saturday for public criticism of Lauren Holtkamp, the first-year referee who called a technical foul against the point guard earlier this week against Cleveland.
Oklahoma City is searching for some consistency and has lost five of its last eight games, including Friday's heart-breaking 116-113 defeat to Anthony Davis and the New Orleans Pelicans.
Davis hit the game-winning 3-pointer at the buzzer and finished with 41 points. Russell Westbrook scored a career-high 48 points with 11 assists and nine rebounds, while Kevin Durant scored 27 points for the Thunder.
"We don't feel sorry for ourselves," said Westbrook. "We put too much time and effort into this to feel sorry for ourselves. We'll come back tomorrow and it will be back to work."
Westbrook has scored 40 or more points in two straight and three of the last five games, and is averaging 34.4 ppg in his past seven.
The Thunder have a 14-8 home record and will visit Denver on Monday.
OKC big man Kendrick Perkins (suspension) will miss Sunday's game for "initiating and making head-to-head contact" with Pelicans guard Tyreke Evans in the first quarter.
Los Angeles defeated OKC, 93-90, back on Oct. 30 at Staples Center and was led by Griffin's 23 points. Perry Jones stepped up for the Thunder with 32 points and Durant was still recovering from offseason foot surgery.
The Clippers and Thunder will meet again March 11. Oklahoma City is 4-2 in the previous six games in this series.
[SportsNetwork.com]
