| |
|
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:
Lorenzo Parra Delivers Stunning Second-Round Knockout at Sold-Out Manny Pacquiao Promotions Event at Turning Stone Resort Casino in Verona, N.Y. , Sun, 01 Mar 2026Almacen Bros Score Knockout Wins in Exciting Brico Santig Show in Thailand Live on TrillerTV By Carlos Costa, , Sun, 01 Mar 2026Lorenzo Patricio and Lavant Brownlee Advance to Gold Medal Round in Bulgaria , Sun, 01 Mar 2026HALL OF FAMER TIMOTHY BRADLEY JR. TO RETURN TO CANASTOTA FOR 2026 HALL OF FAME INDUCTION WEEKEND , Sun, 01 Mar 2026Paras stops Abcede in 2nd round By Lito delos Reyes, , Sun, 01 Mar 2026Undefeated Welterweight Ruben Aguilar Stops Luis Lopez in Eight Brutal Rounds in Main Event of ProBoxTV’s ‘The Contender Series’ at University of Texas in Arlington , Sun, 01 Mar 2026Patricio, Brownlee and Awinongya Enter Medal Rounds on Day Five of Strandja 2026 Boxing Tournament , Sun, 01 Mar 2026Matthew James Sugatan wins Flash-ADV 160 9-Ball Tournament at Pacman's Cue Club; pockets P30,000 By Marlon Bernardino, , Sun, 01 Mar 2026IM Arca finishes in eight place in Pacquiao chess; NM Ilar pockets P100,000 By Marlon Bernardino, , Sun, 01 Mar 2026DC Half Marathon on March 8 at Freedom Park By Lito delos Reyes, , Sun, 01 Mar 2026Athletics Festival Season 4 on March 21-22 By Lito delos Reyes, , Sun, 01 Mar 2026Nuñez vs Navarrete: Knuckle Up for a Certified Banger By Chris Carlson, , Sat, 28 Feb 2026‘There's no way I'm going to lose’ -- Holly McMath looks to make a statement in high-stakes trilogy fight , Sat, 28 Feb 2026WEIGHTS, RUNNING ORDER AND FINAL WORDS FOR NAVARRETE VS. NUNEZ , Sat, 28 Feb 2026WEIGH-IN RESULTS FOR MANNY PACQUIAO PROMOTIONS: PIERCE VS. PARRA , Sat, 28 Feb 2026Former US President Obama will donate Ali gloves to his presidential library By Gabriel F. Cordero, , Sat, 28 Feb 2026Almacen Brothers Make Weight, Ready for Battle in Thailand By Carlos Costa, , Fri, 27 Feb 2026Four United States Women's Boxers Shine Bright on Day Four of Strandja 2026 Boxing Tournament , Fri, 27 Feb 2026Matthew James Sugatan wins Flash-ADV 160 9-Ball Tournament at Pacman's Cue Club; pockets P30,000 By Marlon Bernardino, , Fri, 27 Feb 2026Weights From ProBoxTV’s ‘Vazquez vs. Machuca’ at College Park Center in the University of Texas , Fri, 27 Feb 2026Ethan Matthew Gabriel tops Boscolympics 2026 Grade School chess meet , Fri, 27 Feb 2026Boxing Legend & Hall of Famer Roy Jones Jr. Confirmed for Ninth Annual Box Fan Expo, During Cinco De Mayo Weekend, Saturday May 2, in Las Vegas , Fri, 27 Feb 2026IM Christian Gian Karlo Tade - Arca outwits GM Pa Iniyan in Round 6 of the Manny Pacquiao International Open chess By Marlon Bernardino, , Thu, 26 Feb 2026San Francisco Boxing Leaders Bring It Back: FIGHT NIGHT AT ROCCAPULCO , Thu, 26 Feb 2026Alyssa Mendoza, Salim Ellis-Bey and Kelvin Watts Secure Wins on Day Three of 2026 Strandja Boxing Tournament , Thu, 26 Feb 2026 |

|
|
|
|
|