Davis' 24, key 3-pointer lift Clippers past OKC
By MURRAY EVANS, Associated Press Writer
OKLAHOMA CITY (AP) -- Baron Davis scored 24 points, including a key 3-pointer in the final minute, to help the Los Angeles Clippers snapped a three-game losing streak with a 101-93 victory over the Oklahoma City Thunder on Sunday night.
Chris Kaman added 25 points on 10-for-15 shooting and had seven rebounds for Los Angeles (4-7), which avenged a loss to Oklahoma City (5-5) on the Clippers' home court four days earlier.
Kevin Durant scored a season-high 40 points and had eight rebounds for Oklahoma City, which was seeking what would have been only its second three-game winning streak since the franchise moved from Seattle before last season. Oklahoma City had road wins over the Clippers and San Antonio in its previous two games.
In a game that had 25 lead changes and 18 ties, Kaman put the Clippers ahead for good at 94-93, taking a pass from Davis and scoring with 1:46 left. After the teams traded turnovers, Russell Westbrook missed an 18-footer for Oklahoma City, and Davis followed with the 3-pointer to give Los Angeles a 97-93 lead.
Jeff Green missed a 3-point attempt for Oklahoma City, and Al Thornton scored on a breakaway dunk for the Clippers with 29.2 seconds left to seal the win.
Westbrook had 17 points, nine rebounds and seven assists for Oklahoma City, which shot 33.8 percent from the field and went 3 of 20 from 3-point range.
Rasual Butler's 3-pointer in the final minute of the first quarter put the Clippers ahead 25-23 and they didn't relinquish the lead for the rest of the half. Los Angeles twice built its lead to 10 points and was up 49-41 at halftime.
The Clippers led 58-46 after Thornton's dunk a little more than two minutes into the third quarter, but Oklahoma City went on a 15-2 run, highlighted by seven points from Westbrook, to go up 61-60. The Thunder led 76-75 entering the fourth quarter but never could stretch their lead beyond three points.
Thornton scored 20 points for Los Angeles, which shot 48.1 percent from the field against a team that ranked fifth in the NBA in scoring defense.
NOTES: Rookie Blake Griffin, the former Oklahoma star drafted No. 1 overall by the Clippers, didn't make the trip Oklahoma City for Los Angeles' only trip to his hometown this season. Griffin is undergoing treatment for a broken kneecap. ... Thunder reserve guard Shaun Livingston was on the inactive list for the second straight game because of what coach Scott Brooks called a left knee contusion.