The game was supposed to be a test of their endurance, a test to see how the Clippers could handle playing a fourth game in seven days while facing the Western Conference’s top team, the Oklahoma City Thunder.

The Clippers have already been tested this season, tests that gauged whether they could perform late when a win was on the line. Things didn’t go well, as the Clippers lost three close games on Saturday.

Clippers coach Tyronn Lue said the Thunder would test “our mentality and how we needed to play.”

Lue wanted his group to play as well in the second half as they normally played in the first half of games – to keep up the same effort.

The Clippers (2-4) failed to achieve that goal, losing 105-92 to the Thunder. The Clippers have lost three straight and are 0-4 at the Intuit Dome, their new home in Inglewood.

“So, like I said, just be mentally tough, be tough,” Lue said before the game. “We’re not the only ones playing this type of schedule. “So we’ve got to pay attention to the details and pay attention to the details and just play better on both ends of the floor in the second half.”

The Clippers started the first quarter strong, building a 13-point lead. They went 6 for 16 from three-point range, tying a franchise record for three-point attempts in the first quarter.

But they struggled with turnovers in the second quarter and gave the ball away eight times for eleven points. For the game, the Clippers had 20 turnovers.

Lue said before the game that he wanted the Clippers to take care of the basketball. The Clippers averaged 16.4 turnovers per game, sixth-worst in the NBA. They failed to cut turnovers against the Thunder, who led the league in steals on Saturday, averaging 13.8 per game.

By halftime, the Thunder (6-0) cut the Clippers’ lead to 57-53. Outscored 12-2 early in the fourth quarter, the Clippers fell into a 13-point hole and couldn’t get any closer.

“…When we run our offense, we have a pretty good offense,” Lue said. “But if we play random basketball, we’re not that good right now. So if we hold it (and) stagnate, we’re not very good.

Norman Powell led the Clippers with 24 points, but James Harden had just 12 points on four-for-13 shooting and 13 rebounds. Ivica Zubac had nine points and 12 rebounds.

Shai Gilgeous-Alexander led the Thunder with 25 points and nine assists.