Clippers at Thunder
THE STORY: With their playoff positioning pretty much settled in the fourth spot in the West, the Oklahoma City Thunder will look to build momentum for the postseason while avoiding injuries when they host Blake Griffin and the Los Angeles Clippers on Wednesday night. The Thunder are coming off a big win against Denver in what was likely a preview of a first-round series. The Clippers, trying to close strong going into the offseason, beat Memphis on the road Tuesday.
TV: 8 p.m. ET, FSPT, FSOK
ABOUT THE THUNDER (51-26): Oklahoma City ended any hopes Denver had of catching it and stealing the fourth spot and homecourt in the first round with a 101-94 victory Tuesday to pull four games ahead of the Nuggets. Kevin Durant had 32 points and nine rebounds and drained 11 of 12 from the line while Kendrick Perkins and Serge Ibaka combined for 25 rebounds. The Thunder still has a shot at the third seed, sitting two games back of Dallas with five games left.
ABOUT THE CLIPPERS (31-47): Mo Williams scored nine of his 16 points in the fourth quarter to help Los Angeles snap Memphis’ four game winning streak and its surge up the Western Conference playoff ladder. Griffin had 15 points and 14 rebounds. The Grizzlies had been 21-0 at home when leading at the half. After this one, the Clippers visit Dallas and Houston before closing at Staples against Memphis, three teams jockeying for playoff position.
WHO’S HOT/WHO’S NOT: Westbrook shot 5 of 17 against Denver and is shooting 11 of 44 in his last four games with 16 turnovers. Ibaka is averaging 13.4 points on 47-of-83 shooting and 8.8 rebounds in his last eight games. Clippers center Chris Kaman has regained his starting spot from DeAndre Jordan and has shot 50 percent or better in his last six games and nine of 11.
KEY STATISTIC: Thunder point guard Russell Westbrook shot 1 of 12 against the Clips last Saturday and is 9 for 39 in the three games against them this season for 12.7 points per game – his lowest scoring average against any opponent this season.
SEASON SERIES: The Clippers have taken two of three, including a 98-92 victory Saturday behind 26 points and 16 rebounds from Blake Griffin. The rookie All-Star had 18 and nine in a win back in November and unloaded 28 points, 11 rebounds and eight assists in the 111-88 loss in late February.
KEY INJURIES: LOS ANGELES: F Ryan Gomes (knee). OKLAHOMA CITY: None.
LAST WORD: “It's not just wins and losses. It's about how you play and if you're able to do the things you know you're capable of doing. That's definitely great for you mentally going into a series if we wind up playing them.” – Thunder center Nazr Mohammed.