Clippers rally to beat Thunder
Los Angeles Clippers forward Blake Griffin, front right, celebrates along with Chris Paul, third from left, Danny Granger, center, Darren Collison, right, as Oklahoma City Thunder forward Serge Ibaka, left, and center Ryan Hollins look on as the Clippers win Game 4 of the Western Conference semifinal NBA basketball playoff series on Sunday, May 11, 2014, in Los Angeles. The Clippers won 101-99. AP
LOS ANGELES—Darren Collison scored 10 of his 18 points in the final 2:58 as the Los Angeles Clippers came back to beat the Oklahoma City Thunder 101-99 on Monday (Manila time) to level the Western Conference semifinal series 2-2.
Russell Westbrook, who scored 27 points, missed a 3-pointer and Serge Ibaka’s tip attempt was too late at the buzzer, allowing the Clippers to salvage a game they trailed until the final 1:23.
Blake Griffin led Los Angeles with 25 points, making 9 of 11 free throws, and Chris Paul had 23 points and 10 assists. Jamal Crawford added 18 points. DeAndre Jordan had 14 rebounds, helping the Clippers win the boards, 45-43 — the first time in 11 playoff games the Thunder were outrebounded.
Kevin Durant scored 40 points, hitting 15 of 18 free throws, for the Thunder.
Game 5 is Wednesday (Manila time) in Oklahoma City.
It was the 14th comeback by the Clippers this season after trailing by double digits. They rebounded from 12 points down in the second quarter of Game 7 to oust Golden State in the first round.
The Clippers had no answer for Durant and Westbrook until midway through the fourth quarter. That dynamic duo drove the lane with abandon, drew fouls and made free throws in leading the Thunder to an early 22-point lead.
Durant’s three-point play early in the fourth extended the Thunder’s lead to 15 points, and they were still up by 10 with 7:44 to go.
Paul willed his team back into the game, scoring six straight points to get the Clippers within six. Griffin made three of four free throws before Collison sealed the win.
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