| |
|
NBA Playoffs -- Clippers' meltdown hand Thunder Game 5
By Joan Secuya-Medida PhilBoxing.com Wed, 14 May 2014

SAN FRANCISCO --The Los Angeles Clippers suffered an epic collapse Tuesday night and lost a Game 5 heartbreaker to the Oklahoma City Thunder, 105-104, at the Chesapeake Energy Arena.
Leading 101-88 with only 4:13 remaining, the Clippers watched the Thunder go on a 17-3 run that handed Oklahoma the critical Game 5, and perhaps, the series altogether.
Game 6 is Thursday night (Friday AM in Manila) at the Staples Center in Los Angeles where the Thunder hope to strike the knockout blow.
All-Star Chris Paul made 3 crucial turnovers that helped seal Los Angeles' fate. With 13.9 seconds to go and his team clinging to a 104-102 lead, Paul turned over the ball. In the ensuing possession, Paul fouled Russell Westbrook while shooting a 3. Westbrook calmly sank all three free throws for the winning margin.
Despite the Thunder's surge, the Clippers still had a chance to steal Game 5 in the final 6.4 seconds but Paul -- again -- turned the ball over.
"It's the toughest thing I've been through in basketball. Everything that happened at the end is on me. It's just bad basketball. It's bad to work that hard and just give it away at the end," Paul told reporters on his post-game press conference aired on NBA-TV.
Although his five turnovers doomed his team, Paul finished with a solid 17 points and 14 assists while Blake Griffin had a monster 24 and 17 boards. Jamal Crawford had 19 and Matt Barnes drilled four 3s for 16 points, but the Clips made only 38 of 88 shots, including 12 of 27 triples.
Westbrook led the Thunder with 38 points while Kevin Durant had 27 despite missing 16 of 22 shots. Serge Ibaka and Reggie Jakcson chipped in 8 points each as OKC converted 33 of 77 field goals and 7 of 17 threes. (JSM)
Photo: Chris Paul's series of late-game blunders led to the Clippers' 105-104 Game 5 demise.
Click here to view a list of other articles written by Joan Secuya-Medida.
Recent PhilBoxing.com In-House articles:
2026 NBA Finals: Knicks Rally from 29 Points Down to Steal Game 4 from Spurs 107-106 By Reylan Loberternos, , Thu, 11 Jun 2026VARGAS: BEATING BAM MAKES ME ‘THE MAN’ , Thu, 11 Jun 2026Pound-for-Pound Puerto Rican Champion Oscar “El Pupilo” Collazo Hosts Media Workout Ahead of June 20 Defense Against Philippines’ Joey Canoy , Thu, 11 Jun 2026Sanman 101 boxing event to push through in General Santos By Lito delos Reyes, , Thu, 11 Jun 2026Panamanian female champ star Nataly Delgado ready to beat Artiga for WBA title in Orlando, Florida By Gabriel F. Cordero, , Thu, 11 Jun 2026Pedro Veitia Eager to Separate Himself in Battle of Unbeaten Middleweight Prospects June 13 in Orlando , Thu, 11 Jun 2026Raga, Esquillo, Ortega, Navarrete, Santos, Ripay to compete in Japan 10-Ball Open By Marlon Bernardino, , Thu, 11 Jun 2026Chess tournament goes to Dasmarinas Cavite By Marlon Bernardino, , Thu, 11 Jun 2026Roach Jr. vs. Zepeda Press Conference Quotes , Wed, 10 Jun 2026Steven Butler to face Edgar Berlanga on July 26 at the Infosys Theater of the Madison Square Garden in New York , Wed, 10 Jun 2026Nimal Farmer scores signature win over Michael Anderson at Prudential Center , Wed, 10 Jun 2026H2O EAGER TO MAKE STATEMENT AGAINST FORMER WORLD CHAMPION JOJO DIAZ IN HOMETOWN HEADLINER JUNE 19 , Wed, 10 Jun 2026THE PAST WEEK IN ACTION 8 JUNE 2026: Ramirez SD Lerrone; Baumstarh SD Bustillos; Vazquez, Mindoro Win in Texas; Yabuki, Moloney, Casimero and Angeletti Win in Japan By Eric Armit, , Tue, 09 Jun 20262026 NBA Finals: Spurs Take Game 3, Beat Knicks in New York 115-111 By Reylan Loberternos, , Tue, 09 Jun 2026Casimero still rocking By Joaquin Henson, , Tue, 09 Jun 2026Mascarinas faces tough competition in 66th San Carlos Charter Day By Marlon Bernardino, , Tue, 09 Jun 2026Raymond Muratalla Defends IBF Lightweight World Title Against Former Champion Robson Conceicao in Explosive Co-Main Event to Roach Jr. vs. Zepeda , Tue, 09 Jun 2026IBA represented at the United Nations World Cup Diplomacy Summit in New York , Tue, 09 Jun 2026Historic Costa Rican former champ Bryan Vasquez is arrested By Gabriel F. Cordero, , Tue, 09 Jun 2026Bruce Wren Tatad of Tanza, Cavite rules National Age Group Chess Championship ; vying Singapore chess tilt By Marlon Bernardino, , Tue, 09 Jun 2026Suslenkov to face Joyce in a thrilling showdown at IBA PRO 19 in Moscow , Mon, 08 Jun 2026Dalton Smith receives inaugural WBC Ricky Hatton Legacy Belt in front of thousands in Mancheste , Mon, 08 Jun 2026Stacey King three time NBA Champion with Chicago Bulls passes away By Gabriel F. Cordero, , Mon, 08 Jun 2026FM Daluz sweeps 10th AQ Prime chess tilt By Marlon Bernardino, , Mon, 08 Jun 2026Llover vows comeback By Joaquin Henson, , Mon, 08 Jun 2026 |

|
|
|
|
|