NBA: Clippers complete epic comeback to tie series with the Thunder

LOS ANGELES - Despite 40 points from Oklahoma City forward Kevin Durant, the Los Angeles Clippers used a fourth-quarter rally for a 101-99 victory over the Thunder in game four of this Western Conference semifinal series before a sellout crowd of 19,365 at Staples Center on Sunday (Monday, PHL time).

Reserve guard Darren Collison's layup with 32 seconds remaining in the game was the difference and allowed the Clippers to even the best-of-seven series at two games apiece.

Game five is Tuesday (Wednesday, PHL time) in Oklahoma City.

The Thunder, who led by as much as 22 in the first half, blew a 15-point lead in the fourth quarter. Guard Russell Westbrook missed a three-pointer at the buzzer that would have won it for the Thunder.

Oklahoma City carried a 75-63 lead into the fourth quarter, but Clippers guards Chris Paul and Darren Collison, who had 12 points in the final period and 18 overall, led the comeback for Los Angeles.



The Clippers sliced the deficit to 90-89 on a dunk by Collison with 2:57 left. They tied the score at 94 on a three-point play by Griffin with 1:50 remaining. Durant gave the Thunder a 95-94 lead with a free throw before guard Jamal Crawford's three-pointer gave the Clippers the lead.

Westbrook, who finished with 27 points, tied the score again at 97, but Collison gave the Clippers the lead for good with another basket with 59 seconds left.

Griffin led the Clippers with 25 points and pulled down nine rebounds, while Paul finished with 23 points and 10 assists. Crawford scored 18 points.

The Thunder roared out to a 29-7 lead after Westbrook scored on a drive with 3:10 left in the first quarter. They led 32-15 at the end of the first quarter as Westbrook (11 points) and Durant (12 points) combined to outscore the Clippers.

Los Angeles missed 13 of its 15 shots to open the game, while Oklahoma City hit its first seven.

But the Clippers rallied in the second quarter, opening with a 20-3 spurt to cut Oklahoma City's lead to 39-35 after two free throws by Crawford with 6:16 remaining. However, the Thunder increased the margin to 57-46 at intermission. - Reuters


The scores:

CLIPPERS 101 - Griffin 25, Paul 23, Collison 18, Crawford 18, Jordan 7, Redick 6, Davis 4, Granger 0, Barnes 0

THUNDER 99 - Durant 40, Westbrook 27, Jackson 10, Ibaka 8, Butler 6, Sefolosha 4, Collison 2, Perkins 1, Adams 1, Fisher 0

Oklahoma City    32-25-18-24
Los Angeles    15-31-17-38