Thunder 92 - 98 Clippers
Final
  for this game

Thunder and Clippers square off at Staples Center

Apr 2, 2011 - 2:42 PM (Sports Network) - Despite a loss in Portland on Friday, the Oklahoma City Thunder are closing in on a Northwest Division title and will resume a four- game road trip this evening against the Los Angeles Clippers at Staples Center.

Oklahoma City has a comfortable five-game lead over Denver for the division lead with seven games remaining and sits fourth in the Western Conference standings, three games behind Dallas for the third spot.

After an impressive month of March that saw the team set a franchise record with a 14-2 mark and notch its second consecutive 50-win season, the Thunder stumbled in the Pacific Northwest to open April when LaMarcus Aldridge scored 32 points to carry the Trail Blazers to a 98-91 victory.

Kevin Durant totaled 25 points and 11 rebounds for Oklahoma City, which shot just 26 percent from the field in the second half. James Harden and Russell Westbrook tallied 21 and 16 points, respectively, for the Thunder. Westbrook also had nine rebounds and six assists.

"It felt like their defense flip-flopped in the second half," Durant said. "We couldn't hit a shot."

Oklahoma City, which will finish its trek in Denver next Tuesday, is attempting to win its first division title since 2004-05, when the franchise was located in Seattle.

The Clippers, meanwhile, are playing out the string and coming off a 111-98 loss to Phoenix in the desert on Friday. Eric Gordon had 21 points and presumptive Rookie of the Year Blake Griffin totaled 20 points and 13 rebounds for LA, which has dropped three of four overall.

"I didn't think we had great energy tonight," said Clippers head coach Vinny Del Negro. "We let Phoenix run where they wanted to when they wanted to. We shortcut some things defensively."

These two teams have split a pair of meetings this season with each holding serve on its home floor.






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