Westbrook, Durant lead Thunder past Clippers
BY JEFF LATZKE Associated Press
Thursday, November 22, 2012
11/22/12 at 7:07 AM
OKLAHOMA CITY - Kevin Durant scored 35 points, Russell Westbrook added 23 and Oklahoma City's All-Star tandem scored all of the Thunder's points in overtime in a 117-111 victory over the Los Angeles Clippers on Wednesday night.
The Clippers, who came in tied for the best record in the Western Conference, had a six-game winning streak snapped.
Westbrook connected on a 3-pointer from the left wing to open the scoring in overtime, and Durant rattled one in from about the same spot two possessions later for a 108-104 advantage.
Westbrook then answered DeAndre Jordan's three-point play with a baseline jumper, and Oklahoma City closed it out from the foul line.
Blake Griffin led Los Angeles with 23 points and Jamal Crawford scored 20 in the meeting of Western Conference division leaders. Clippers starting forward Caron Butler missed the game with a strained right shoulder.
After trailing for the previous 44 minutes, the Clippers finally pulled even at 102 when Matt Barnes drove for a layup with 36 seconds left in regulation. Griffin denied Durant the ball on the Thunder's ensuing possession, and Westbrook came up empty on a drive to the basket.
Chris Paul then dribbled out the rest of the clock before missing a turnaround jumper from the left elbow as the horn sounded.
Los Angeles was never able to pull ahead, failing in its bid to win at least seven games in a row for only the sixth time in franchise history.
Kevin Martin scored 20 points and Serge Ibaka chipped in 15 points and 12 rebounds for Oklahoma City before fouling out in overtime. Hasheem Thabeet also matched his career high with 10 points off the bench.
Barnes had 19 points for the Clippers. Paul was limited to nine points on 2-for-14 shooting, and he also had nine assists. Los Angeles had been tied with Memphis for the West's best record at the start of the day but dropped behind Oklahoma City and San Antonio with the loss.
The Clippers, who won three out of four against Oklahoma City last season, haven't had a winning streak of seven games or longer since 1991.
The Thunder pushed ahead with a string of eight straight made baskets in the first quarter, and the lead stretched to 26-16 after Westbrook's extra effort turned a potential turnover into a three-point play for Thabeet. After Paul knocked the ball away, Westbrook sprawled on the floor and tapped the ball toward Martin, who picked up the rolling ball and swung it to Nick Collison, who passed it on to Thabeet for a layup.
Original Print Headline: Thunder edges Clippers
Associated Images:
Thunder forward Kevin Durant is fouled by Clippers center Ryan Hollins in the third quarter Wednesday night in Oklahoma City. SUE OGROCKI / Associated Press
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