Tonight at 9:30 p.m. ET in Oklahoma City, the West's No. 2 seed will take on the No. 3 Los Angeles Clippers in Game 1 of a Round 2 NBA Playoffs series after both squads survived stiff tests. Watch the game on TNT or live stream it free by clicking this link; Thunder fans can find the radio broadcast on WWLS 98.1, while Clippers fans may do the same on KFWB 980.
The Clippers overcame the biggest distraction during a postseason in recent memory, the Donald Sterling racist rant saga, to defeat a game Golden State Warriors club in Round 1. Chris Paul, their best player, leader, and NBA Players Association head, divulged the mindset for their Game 7.
For us, it's basketball," Paul said. "Had we lost this game, it wasn't like they were going to let us go to the next round because of what we've been through. I think it just showed our will, our fight, and more so than getting through all that, it was getting through tonight."
Oklahoma City established their dominance in Games 6 and 7 vs. a tough Memphis Grizzlies club, and now they must face a totally different animal in the Clippers. While Memphis is offensively challenged, relying on rough, physical defense, the Clippers are one of the most dynamic offenses in the NBA.
"This team runs at a high level, they pass the ball up the floor at a high level," Kevin Durant said. "They advance the ball, they have athletic guys and shooters all around. Our defense is going to be tested."
Clippers forward Blake Griffin knows OKC presents serious threats offensively when Durant and Russell Westbrook are clicking, but thinks facing Golden State got them ready.
"Defensively, it prepared us to really be on our rotations and understand that nothing is going to be perfect, but we just have got to work it out," Griffin said.
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