OKLAHOMA CITY -- What the Clippers used to get from Elton Brand they're now getting from Zach Randolph, and it's proving to be a winning formula.
Randolph had 22 points and 13 rebounds for his fourth consecutive double-double, and rookie Eric Gordon fueled a 10-point run in the fourth quarter as the Clippers put away the Oklahoma City Thunder, 98-88, Tuesday night to stretch their win streak to three. Randolph, who was traded by the New York Knicks on Nov. 21, has scored at least 21 points in all nine of his starts since joining Los Angeles and he picked up his 15th double-double of the season.
"We just kind of plugged him into the plays we had for Elton Brand," Clippers Coach Mike Dunleavy said. "They work just fine for him."
After coming off the bench in his Clippers debut, Randolph averaged 26 points in his first eight starts before facing Oklahoma City on Tuesday.
"The guy competes on every possession," Dunleavy said. "That's what you're always looking for as a coach."
Gordon, who scored the first six points in a 10-0 run that gave the Clippers an 87-73 lead, also finished with 22 points.
The Thunder is now 1-12 under interim Coach Scott Brooks, the same record it had when P.J. Carlesimo was fired.
