| |
|
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:
WBA/WBO Cruiserweight Champion Gilberto ‘Zurdo’ Ramirez Confirms World Title Fight with David Benavidez on Cinco de Mayo in Las Vegas , Wed, 26 Nov 2025Petecio in, Paalam out By Joaquin Henson, , Wed, 26 Nov 2025Takuma Inoue World Champion Again; Beats Nasukawa for Vacant WBC Belt By Teodoro Medina Reynoso, , Wed, 26 Nov 2025OLYMPIC BOXING 3: 1920 OLYMPIC GAMES AT ANTWERP, BELGIUM By Maloney L. Samaco, , Wed, 26 Nov 2025Badenas TKO’s Saknosiwi in 10th round By Lito delos Reyes, , Wed, 26 Nov 2025Las Vegas & California Amateurs Shine in a Powerful Fall Rumble Weekend Followed by a Heartfelt Turkey Drive for Local Families , Wed, 26 Nov 2025Santa Run Davao on December 14 at NCCC Mall Victoria Plaza By Lito delos Reyes, , Wed, 26 Nov 2025Alec “The Rock” Del Rio Fights for WBC Asia Title Friday in Thailand By Carlos Costa, , Tue, 25 Nov 2025Eumir, Weljohn put pros on hold By Joaquin Henson, , Tue, 25 Nov 2025Toronto Topples Cleveland, 110-99 for 8th Straight Win; Holds on to 2nd in the East By Teodoro Medina Reynoso, , Tue, 25 Nov 2025PPP Seniors & PWD Fun Run 2025 on Dec. 13 in Talomo By Lito delos Reyes, , Tue, 25 Nov 2025MANNY PACQUIAO PROMOTIONS ANNOUNCES A FULL SELLOUT AND BROADCAST DETAILS AHEAD OF U.S. DEBUT EVENT THIS SATURDAY, NOVEMBER 29, AT PECHANGA RESORT CASINO IN TEMECULA, CALIF. , Tue, 25 Nov 2025Tomorrow Night's CB Promotions Card at The Cure Insurance Arena in Trenton is Postponed , Tue, 25 Nov 2025PHL bids to host WB Congress By Joaquin Henson, , Tue, 25 Nov 2025Joel "Lethal" Lewis talks boxing evolution and upcoming Thunderdome 52 fight this Friday in Perth , Tue, 25 Nov 2025Granite Chin Promotions signs Milton pro boxer Jenn Perella , Tue, 25 Nov 2025Mabuhay at Salamat: ‘The Thirty’ Filipino Boxers Who Became Giants By Emmanuel Rivera, RRT, , Mon, 24 Nov 2025World-ranked Lightweight Dynamo Justin Pauldo Collides with Hard-punching Nike Theran , Mon, 24 Nov 2025Fastest Pinay in IronMan 70.3 World comes from Lanao del Norte By Kim delos Reyes-Teves, , Mon, 24 Nov 2025Two-time middleweight world champion Gennadiy Golovkin confirmed as new President of World Boxing at Congress 2025 in Rome , Mon, 24 Nov 2025Panama City will host the World Boxing Ordinary Congress in 2026 By Gabriel F. Cordero, , Mon, 24 Nov 2025Tadlas, Busayong rule 42K in 3rd SDSPPO Run for a Cause By Lito delos Reyes, , Mon, 24 Nov 2025"The Mexican Monster" Terrorizes the 175: Benavidez Demolishes Yarde to Win WBC Light Heavyweight Title By Dong Secuya, , Sun, 23 Nov 2025Harden scores 55 points for a new LA Clippers record By Gabriel F. Cordero, , Sun, 23 Nov 2025Devin Haney Dominates Brian Norman Jr. to Claim WBO Welterweight Title By Dong Secuya, , Sun, 23 Nov 2025 |

|
|
|
|
|