The Clippers came back from an early 22-point deficit against the Thunder, giving them two of the last three 20-point comebacks in NBA playoff history.
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THE LEAD: The Clippers know a thing or two about comebacks, rallying from a 21-point deficit at the start of the fourth quarter to win a playoff game two years ago and by 17 points down with five minutes left in a regular-season game four months ago. They added another one to their record books Sunday under conditions just as unfavorable, getting huge performances from back-up guards Darren Collison and Jamal Crawford in the final quarter of the 101-99 victory in Game 4 of the Western Conference semifinal at Staples Center, evening the series at 2-2.
QUOTABLE: "Jamal and DC in that small lineup, that won the game for us. I'm not sure we ever used that lineup, but that group won the game for us."
-- Clippers coach Doc Rivers
THE STAT: The Clippers remain the only NBA team without a three-game losing streak this season.
TURNING POINT: The Clippers fell behind by 22 points in the first quarter and every push they made in the second and third quarters were turned aside. But after Russell Westbrook got a nice bounce on a pull-up jumper in the lane with 4:07 left to give the Thunder a 90-83 lead, everything started falling L.A.'s way. Crawford buried a 3-pointer from the top of the key to give the Clippers their first lead of the game, 97-95, with 1:23 on the game clock. After both sides traded baskets, Westbrook missed a jumper, Blake Griffin ripped down the rebound and found Collison ahead of the defense for an uncontested layup and the lead was four with 32 seconds remaining. Westbrook scored a quick basket out of a timeout and Griffin missed in close on the other end with seven seconds left, leaving Westbrook plenty of time to launch a game-winning 3-pointer, but he was off the mark and the Clippers escaped with the win.
HOT: The Clippers shot 14-for-22 from the floor in the final quarter, including 13-for-16 in the final 9:01, and scored 38 points. Collison scored 12 of his 18 points in the final frame, converting 4-of-6 shots and all four free throws. Griffin scored 10 of his 25 points in the last quarter and Crawford had seven of his 18. Clippers point guard Chris Paul bounced back after clanking all five of his field-goal attempts in the third quarter and scored eight of his 23 points down the stretch, hitting 4-for-6 from the floor and distributing four of his 10 assists. Oklahoma City owned the first quarter, shooting 64.7 percent while building a 32-15 lead. Kevin Durant scored 40 points for the Thunder on 12-for-24 shooting and 15-for-18 from the free-throw line. He shot 4-for-5 in the last quarter and scored 10 points, but didn't get off a shot in the final 1:56.
NOT: The Clippers were outscored by 40 points at the starting small forward spot as Matt Barnes went scoreless for L.A., missing all six of his field-goal attempts. J.J. Redick also suffered through a second straight tough shooting performance, going without a basket in the first half for the second straight game before finishing with six points on 2-for-8 from the floor. The Clippers were also unusually ragged from 3-point range, missing their first eight tries from long range before finishing 3-for-21. Westbrook put up 27 points, six rebounds and eight assists, but was 4-for-10 from the floor in the fourth quarter, while Durant committed three of his eight turnovers in the final 12 minutes.
GOOD MOVE: Clippers coach Doc Rivers made a key adjustment during the game, moving Paul over to guard Durant, despite giving up nine inches of height. The move limited Durant's ability to drive to the basket and score or get fouled, and forced him to be more of a post-up player, which is not his strength. Griffin picked up his fifth foul with 3:40 still left in the third quarter and immediately went to the bench. When he reentered with 8:44 left and L.A. trailing by 14, Griffin didn't play like he had five fouls, instead muscling his way for 10 points down the stretch, none bigger than the three-point play with 1:50 left that fouled out Serge Ibaka and tied the score at 94.
QUOTABLE II: "I thought Griffin was a really big factor down the stretch."
-- Thunder coach Scott Brooks
BAD MOVE: Westbrook not only missed the game-winner for the Thunder, but was whistled for a technical foul as the first half ended for arguing with the officials. Paul made the free throw to start the second half and Westbrook didn't seem to play with the same emotion the rest of the game.
