Thunder survive Clippers in dramatic finish
Oklahoma City Thunder guard Russell Westbrook (0) drives against Los Angeles Clippers guard Chris Paul (3) in the fourth quarter of Game 5 of the Western Conference semifinal NBA basketball playoff series in Oklahoma City, Tuesday, May 13, 2014. Oklahoma City won 105-104. AP
OKLAHOMA CITY—Oklahoma City’s Russell Westbrook scored 38 points and made three free throws with 6.4 seconds remaining as the Thunder overcame a seven-point deficit in the final 50 seconds and beat the Los Angeles Clippers, 105-104, on Wednesday (Manila time) to go up 3-2 in the Western Conference semifinals.
The dramatic finish in Oklahoma was a marked contrast to the day’s other game in which Washington cruised to a 102-79 win over Indiana to stay alive in their series, cutting the deficit to 3-2.
Westbrook was fouled by Chris Paul while shooting a 3-pointer with the Thunder trailing by two. After his free throws, Paul drove to the hoop, but Reggie Jackson stole the ball from him, and time expired.
Kevin Durant scored 10 of his 27 points in the final 3:23 for the Thunder.
Blake Griffin had 24 points and 17 rebounds, Jamal Crawford scored 19 points and Paul had 17 points and 14 assists for the Clippers.
The Thunder can clinch the series Friday (Manila time) in Los Angeles.
The Clippers took a 101-88 lead in the fourth quarter on a 3-pointer by Crawford before Durant finally got involved. He hit a 3-pointer with 3:23 remaining on his first shot of the quarter, then drained two free throws to cut the Clippers’ lead to 101-95.
A layup by Jackson cut Los Angeles’ lead to four.
Griffin made the first of two free throws and the Clippers took the offensive rebound on the second, enabling Paul to hit a mid-range jumper which gave the Clippers a 104-97 edge with 49 seconds to play.
Durant made a 3-pointer, and soon after a layup with 17 seconds left. Westbrook stole the ball, and in a scramble, the Thunder got possession with 11.3 seconds to play, setting up Westbrook’s play.
The Thunder fell behind by 15 points in the first quarter but rallied in the second as foul trouble set in for the Clippers.
RELATED STORIES
Clippers rally to beat Thunder
Clippers steamroll Thunder in series opener
