Lakers at Thunder
THE STORY: The Los Angeles Lakers and Oklahoma City Thunder have already engaged in off-court drama as they prepare for the opener of their Western Conference semifinal series Monday night at the Chesapeake Energy Arena. The teams took vastly different paths to reach the second round, with the Lakers outlasting the plucky Denver Nuggets in seven games and the Thunder enjoying plenty of rest after ousting the defending-champion Dallas Mavericks in four straight.
TV: 9:30 p.m. ET, TNT
ABOUT THE LAKERS: Leave it to the guy named World Peace to lob the first grenade in what should be a tension-filled series. Metta World Peace says he doesn't plan to shake hands with Thunder guard James Harden, who was felled by a vicious World Peace elbow in their previous regular-season encounter. The incident led to a lengthy suspension for World Peace, who was only eligible to return for Game 7 against the Nuggets. "I don't shake substitutes' hands," he said following the Lakers' series-clinching victory, while also suggesting that Harden may have embellished the contact.
ABOUT THE THUNDER: Oklahoma City may have been young and wide-eyed in last year's postseason, but the team looks to be all business this time around. Led by three-time NBA scoring champion Kevin Durant and sensational point guard Russell Westbrook, the Thunder rolled past the Mavericks in a rematch of last year's Western Conference finals. It was the first series sweep for the franchise since 1996, when the Seattle Supersonics easily handled the defending-champion Houston Rockets. Monday's opener will mark eight days since Oklahoma City last took the court.
BUZZER BEATERS:
1. Thunder C Kendrick Perkins (hip) participated in a pre-practice shooting session Saturday but remains a game-time decision for the opener.
2. Oklahoma City won two of three regular-season meetings. The Lakers won their most recent encounter, escaping with a 114-106 overtime win April 22.
3. Durant averages 25.5 points, 5.7 rebounds and 3.3 assists in 17 career games against the Lakers.