Oklahoma Storms Through Los Angeles; Bogdanović and Topić Benched

As Oklahoma City stormed through Los Angeles with a dominant 128-110 victory, the primary concern for Serbian basketball fans remains the status of their national players, who, unfortunately, watched this game exclusively from the bench.

Bogdan Bogdanović is enduring a particularly challenging period with the Clippers, as coach Tyronn Lue once again opted not to play him. His season is slowly turning into an agonizing uncertainty, having accumulated only 22 appearances so far, mostly with symbolic minutes unbefitting the captain of the "Eagles."

On the other hand, young Nikola Topić also didn't get a chance to step onto the court for the Thunder. Although Oklahoma controlled the pace and built a commanding lead early, coach Mark Daigneault evidently didn't want to risk introducing the former Crvena Zvezda point guard, leaving him to continue waiting for his opportunity in the rotation of one of the league's most powerful teams.

The game itself was a display of force from the visiting team, who set a pace from the start that the home team couldn't match. Chet Holmgren delivered a season-best performance, recording 30 points, 14 rebounds, and four blocks, showcasing his dominance when playing with maximum aggression.

Shai Gilgeous-Alexander played just enough to secure the win, finishing with 20 points and 11 assists, while Isaiah Joe came off the bench to bury the hosts with 21 points. For the Clippers, Kawhi Leonard was the most efficient with 20 points, but he requested to be subbed out once the outcome was clear. He was somewhat supported by Kobi Senders and Brook Lopez.

Oklahoma now faces a major derby as they visit Denver, where the Nuggets will be seeking revenge for previous losses. This could be another opportunity to see a clash of Serbian players if Topić gets his chance.

Meanwhile, the Clippers head to Portland for a direct battle against the Trail Blazers for the eighth seed and home-court advantage in the play-in tournament. It remains to be seen if Tyronn Lue will finally change his decision during this crucial period and give Bogdan Bogdanović a chance.