Harden-less Clippers can’t maintain fast start in loss to Thunder

By TONY SELLARS The Associated Press

OKLAHOMA CITY — The Clippers are eagerly awaiting the season debut of their biggest star. They played Thursday night without the other one.

The short-handed Clippers started strong, but they could not maintain that for four quarters and were no match for the red-hot Oklahoma City Thunder. Shai Gilgeous-Alexander scored 29 points and the Thunder won their franchise-record 13th consecutive regular-season game, handing the Clippers a 116-98 defeat.