Westbrook pushes Thunder past Clippers
LOS ANGELES -- Russell Westbrook scored 35 points, grabbed six rebounds and handed out five assists, leading the Oklahoma City Thunder to an 85-83 victory over the Los Angeles Clippers on Wednesday night at Staples Center.
Westbrook was the lone Thunder player to score in double digits. Westbrook, who committed 10 turnovers, converted 14 of 30 shots but missed all seven of his 3-point attempts for the Thunder (4-0), the only unbeaten Western Conference team.
Chris Paul finished with 15 points, 11 rebounds, nine assists and six steals for the Clippers (3-1). Blake Griffin added 14 points, nine rebounds and five assists. Marreese Speights also scored 14.
Oklahoma City outshot Los Angeles 40.5 percent to 39.1 percent.
Domantas Saboni's 3-pointer and a Westbrook layup with 2:15 remaining in the contest gave Oklahoma City an 81-78 lead it would never surrendered. A dunk by Westbrook increased the margin to five.
However, the trey by Clippers guard J.J. Redick cut the deficit to 83-81 with a minute left. Westbrook answered with a 17-foot jumper to push the lead to four with 18 seconds left.
After a bucket by DeAndre Jordan pulled the Clippers within two again with three seconds remaining, Los Angeles ran out of time.
The Thunder used a 13-2 spurt to close the first half and grab a 49-41 edge at the break. Westbrook, who scored 10 of his 16 first-half points in the second quarter, was almost more productive offensively than the Clippers' entire starting lineup. Los Angeles' first five combined for 19 points on 7-of-22 shooting, with no Clipper reaching double figures before intermission.
Paul, who left the game briefly after taking a Nick Collison elbow to the face, missed all four of his first-half shots.
In the third, the Clippers rallied. Brandon Bass finished the quarter by nailing a 35-foot 3-pointer for a 66-65 lead heading into the final period. Griffin had 10 of his points in the third.
The game featured 20 lead changes and 12 ties.
NOTES: Thunder PG Russell Westbrook dictated much of the pregame conversation. "There's guys in the league that you can say, 'We'll let him get his,' but Russell plays with so much energy he can get 100 (points)," said Clippers coach Doc Rivers, who added he believes Westbrook can average a triple-double this season. ... Westbrook (38.7 points, 12.3 rebounds), Clippers F Blake Griffin (22 points, 11.3 rebounds) and New Orleans F/C Anthony Davis (37 points, 13 rebounds) were the only three NBA players averaging at least 20 points and 10 rebounds entering the contest. ... Thunder coach Billy Donovan refused to look ahead to Thursday's showdown against former Thunder F Kevin Durant and the host Golden State Warriors. "I get and understand different storylines ... but all our focus and attention is on the Clippers," Donovan said. ... The Clippers visit the Memphis Grizzlies on Friday.