LOS ANGELES (AP) With Oklahoma City trying to hold off yet another marquee team, took impose - inside huddle. He urged their Thunder teammates to hold their particular composure, fixed window screens along with play defense.
They listened and also made apart a late rally by the particular Los Angeles Clippers in order to acquire 108-104 upon Sunday in the matchup involving Western Conference contenders.
''It had been a fantastic route gain for people around a playoff-type atmosphere,'' mentioned Westbrook, which acquired 29 things along with twelve assists. ''We would an excellent employment of maintaining their own group out of your game.''
Kevin Durant applyed throughout thirty five details and Serge Ibaka had 16 because Oklahoma City finished a three-game road skid, bouncing again a lot less than 48 hours following burning off during Denver. They in addition completed a months sweep of the Clippers, who will be seeking your Thunder plus NBA-best San Antonio while in the West.
''We wasn't inside a panic and anxiety mode,'' Westbrook said. ''We simply wanted to win.''
Chris Paul have scored 26 points as well as Blake Griffin and Jamal Crawford added in 20 factors apiece to the Clippers, whose four-game earning ability finished inside their lastly decline to the Thunder this specific season. Paul produced just about all nine associated with his or her free of charge throws to assist his crew go 19 for 22 from the line.
''We emerged up short, and it seemed similar to every time something happened, many of us just simply could not conquer the particular hump,'' Paul said. ''They received the appropriate calls when they essential them, although they will played out a excellent game.''
The referees had been hectic to get high of the particular day, considering the Clippers necessary twenty six fouls to be able to the actual Thunder's 22 inside a actual game of which presented two bottle technicals with Caron Butler and Kendrick Perkins regarding their verbal exchange and Ibaka's flagrant-1 foul on Griffin.
''It's often gonna be a tough, chippy video game when we engage in these individuals since we are together really bodily coaches and teams having natural bigs, consequently there's lots of pushing along with all which decrease low,'' Griffin said. ''I speculate it's hard to be able to officiate in addition to know points to call along with what exactly not really to, nevertheless they did actually recognize today learn about call.''
The Clippers have three online players within strong problem around your second half: Griffin, Butler, Lamar Odom and also Matt Barnes . Griffin fouled available with 59 seconds left. They went in search of with regard to 24 through 3-point variety along with had 21 years of age turnovers, such as 16 in the initial 50 percent - their particular the majority of inside a one half this kind of season.
''That's embarrassing. That's crazy. That's not wish us,'' Paul said. ''In the best half, they will only have an excellent job of mucking that lane up. Every moment I emerged affordable court, I saw a wall. They essentially stuck my home straight into baseball screens. In the second half, we brought L.O. within and we attended small, which often popped the actual court up. And if we exposed this court up, many of us could easily get into your lane as well as help make represents along with hearth up shots.''
Los Angeles came around looking this Thunder by just a half-game to get second in the West, although played from powering close to the entire game. The Clippers trimmed a 19-point debts that will 82-73 at the end from the third. Odom hit a 3-pointer as well as Paul done your three-point play to offer them this momentum and acquire your masses back again in to the game.
''There's no these kinds of idea seeing that moral victories to help us,'' Griffin said. ''We've already been around this situation before, but many of us never desire to placed themselves in this situation. We've reached always be far better from place to finish off to help conquer your group similar to this.''
The Clippers outscored the Thunder 12-5 in order to open the fourth. Paul have five points, like a generating layup and also a floater from the lane above Durant. Griffin then feasted Crawford while in the correct corner for any 3-pointer this quit the actual Clippers trailing 91-90.
The Thunder responded together with six direct points, although Los Angeles rallied again. Barnes click back-to-back 3-pointers on a problem rebounds to receive the particular Clippers within three. Ibaka chopped Griffin within the correct stylish just before Barnes' following three or more travelled in, with Griffin collapsing for the judge along with Ibaka receiving this flagrant.
''It's basketball, man,'' Griffin said. ''Sometimes a person receive items a bit very far, but I weren't provoking (Ibaka) or anything just like that.''
Said Thunder trainer Scott Brooks: ''It has been a new scrum and also both were battling for position.''
A video clip look at established the decision along with Griffin travelled into the line, missing the initial and also making your second. The Clippers maintained person as well as Crawford hit a 3-pointer to give them their particular earliest head belonging to the game during 100-99 using 1:30 to play.
''He shared with us to keep playing,'' Durant said of Westbrook. ''Everyone inside huddle was calm. We had a challenging stretch but it appeared to be about how exactly most of us bounced back.''
The Thunder scored nine belonging to the last tough luck points.
Brooks credited Westbrook regarding instilling relax in the late going.
''His leadership is actually getting better calendar year by simply year and it also should be,'' he or she said. ''Tonight was a common case of exactly what he's done. He's a strong mental guy, nevertheless he / she maintains everything together.''
The Thunder climbed to its first double-digit guide within the minute throughout a 12-2 operate that achieved it 53-37. Durant and Thabo Sefolosha hit back-to-back 3-pointers en route to a new 54-41 lead in the break.
''We were being shifting the basketball and also carrying out a fine job with concluding this paint up,'' Durant said. ''We taken away these big-time plays.''
Besides that turnovers, the particular Clippers were just simply 2 associated with 11 from 3-point range, absent several straight to close the other quarter.
NOTES: The Thunder increased that will 13-3 within video games trialled right after a loss. . The Clippers fell to be able to 23-7 during home. . Griffin has 10 direct games together with 16-plus points, seven-plus rebounds plus two-plus assists, this at best this kind of skills in the league this season.
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