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Oklahoma City Thunder Weekly: Likely The 2nd Seed, Looking At Potential 1st-Round Foes

By Phil Watson

Apr 8, 2014; Sacramento, CA, USA; Oklahoma City Thunder forward Kevin Durant (35) reacts after the Thunder scored a basket against the Sacramento Kings in the second quarter at Sleep Train Arena. Mandatory Credit: Cary Edmondson-USA TODAY Sports
Apr 8, 2014; Sacramento, CA, USA; Oklahoma City Thunder forward Kevin Durant (35) reacts after the Thunder scored a basket against the Sacramento Kings in the second quarter at Sleep Train Arena. Mandatory Credit: Cary Edmondson-USA TODAY Sports /
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Apr 9, 2014; Los Angeles, CA, USA; Oklahoma City Thunder guard Russell Westbrook (0) shoots the ball as Los Angeles Clippers center DeAndre Jordan (R) and Los Angeles Clippers guard J.J. Reddick (L) defend during the first quarter at Staples Center. Mandatory Credit: Kelvin Kuo-USA TODAY Sports
Apr 9, 2014; Los Angeles, CA, USA; Oklahoma City Thunder guard Russell Westbrook (0) shoots the ball as Los Angeles Clippers center DeAndre Jordan (R) and Los Angeles Clippers guard J.J. Reddick (L) defend during the first quarter at Staples Center. Mandatory Credit: Kelvin Kuo-USA TODAY Sports /

Wednesday, April 9: Thunder 107, Los Angeles Clippers 101 (Staples Center, Los Angeles)
Oklahoma City came in off a win at Sacramento, while the Clippers had beaten the Lakers and had won five of six overall. The Thunder deactivated Grant Jerrett and Andre Roberson, while the Clippers had Danny Granger inactive. Jamal Crawford was in uniform but did not play because of a calf injury.

The Clippers shot just 7-for-23 in the first quarter as the Thunder opened a 29-22 lead. Russell Westbrook scored 14 points and Kevin Durant added nine. Blake Griffin had 12 points and five rebounds for the Clippers.

Oklahoma City maintained a 59-54 lead at the half. Serge Ibaka and Steven Adams had six points each. Hedo Turkoglu led Los Angeles with eight points and J.J. Redick handed out five assists.

The Thunder upped their lead at the quarter break to 85-73. Durant had six points in the period. Griffin scored seven in the quarter for the Clippers.

Los Angeles rallied, getting the margin down to two points three different times in the late stages, including cutting the Oklahoma City lead to 102-100 with 1:08 to go. Durant made two free throws and Westbrook closed the game out by hitting 3-of-4 from the line in the final 15.2 seconds. Westbrook had eight points and five rebounds in the period. Darren Collison had 10 points for the Clippers and Chris Paul added nine.

For the game, Westbrook finished with 30 points, 11 rebounds and six assists. Durant added 27 points and Ibaka went for 15 points and four blocked shots. Griffin led the Clippers with 30 points and 12 rebounds, Paul added 25 points and eight assists, Collison logged 12 points and DeAndre Jordan notched 10 points, 12 rebounds and three blocked shots. Redick also handed out eight assists.

Oklahoma City was 38-for-90 (42.2 percent) overall, 5-for-21 (23.8 percent) from deep and 26-for-32 (81.3 percent) at the free-throw stripe. Los Angeles was 36-for-86 (41.9 percent), 8-for-27 (29.6 percent) and 21-for-34 (61.8 percent). In the other categories, it was:
Rebounding: 52-44 LAC
In the Paint: 44-42 LAC
Second Chance Scoring: 17-15 OKC
Fast break: 23-14 LAC
Turnovers (Points off): OKC 8 (9), LAC 17 (22)

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