Westbrook Returns to Stop the Clippers, Suns Win Third Straight

In a battle for the Western Conference’s second seed, the Oklahoma City Thunder (57-21) proved too tough for the Los Angeles Clippers (55-24) on Wednesday and got the 107-101 win.

With the victory, barring a late collapse, the Thunder need two wins to get the West’s second seed as they have four games remaining. They sit at 2/1 to win the Western Conference and 9/2 to win the 2014 NBA Championship.

Russell Westbrook

For this game, the return of Russell Westbrook, who sat out the last two games and has missed 34 games this season, was the X factor as he scored 30 points, 11 rebounds and six assists. Westbrook’s athleticism was on display and two of his offensive rebounds kept the Clippers from going on a much-needed run at the game’s end.

Kevin Durant had an uncharacteristic off night with his 27 points (8 for 26 shooting) but adding to the big win was Serge Ibaka’s block of J.J. Redick’s 3-pointer with 10 seconds remaining in the game. For the night, Ibaka contributed 15 points.

The Clippers gave it their all, rallying from a fourth quarter 15-point deficit to get within a point twice but fell short.  Blake Griffin led the team in scoring with his 30 points and 12 rebounds while Chris Paul contributed 25 points with eight assists.

With a win, the Clippers would have been the owner of the tiebreaker versus the Thunder, but now, the teams will split this season’s series, 2-2. However, they could possibly meet again–in the playoffs’ second round.

Clippers coach Doc Rivers said of the loss via the Associated Press, “Every once in a while you want to win a game too bad, and you get in the way of yourselves. I thought tonight we were in the way of ourselves a lot. That’s fixable.”

With three remaining games, the Clippers sit as the third seed, back 2 1/2 games. Their next game is on Friday against the revived Indiana Pacers.

The Clippers sit at 9/2 to win the Western Conference and 8/1 to win the 2014 NBA Championship.

In other Pacific division action on Wednesday, the Phoenix Suns (47-31) grabbed their third straight win and now have a firm hold on the West’s eighth seed with their 94-88 victory over the New Orleans Pelicans (32-46).

Goran Dragic

With 2:38 remaining in the game, tied at 87, an Eric Bledsoe jumper broke it and helped the Suns get their win. For the night, he had 16 points (all in the second half) but Goran Dragic was the MVP with his 20 points, nine assists and three blocks. Gerald Green came in behind with 21 points; P.J. Tucker added 15 points.

Dragic said of the game via the Associated Press, “It was not a pretty game. That’s obvious. We didn’t play our best game, but in the end we are really happy we won another game.”

The win enabled the Suns to keep its one-game advantage over the Memphis Grizzlies for the West’s last playoff spot. However, Memphis will not give up easily as they defeated the Miami Heat, 107-102, on Wednesday.

For now, Phoenix sits at 40/1 to win the Western Conference with 75/1 odds to win it all.  On Friday, they’ll play the San Antonio Spurs.

As for New Orleans, the team played without star Anthony Davis, who was out with back problems. Rookie Jeff Withey stepped up and had a career night with his 17 points while Darius Miller and Anthony Morrow scored 14 points apiece.

The Pelicans fought for the win until the end, overcoming a 10-point deficit in the fourth quarter to take a three-point advantage but the Suns came back with jumpers as the clock ticked past the two-minute mark for the final lead.

New Orleans has four games remaining and will play the Thunder on Friday.