Few expected the Thunder to get hung up on the Detroit Pistons on the last night of the season to clinch their playoff seed, but they nearly did before eking out a win at home. With the victory, the Thunder secured the No. 2 seed in the Western Conference and a first round matchup with the Memphis Grizzlies. The Clippers will be the No. 3 seed, and open a series against the Golden State Warriors.
Thunder clinch No. 2 seed, Clippers take No. 3 seed
The West’s top playoff seeds are now set after Kevin Durant’s fourth quarter surge to get the Thunder into the second seed.
Though the game was pretty close the whole night, the Thunder pulled the deficit close in the fourth before pulling out the victory on the shoulders of Kevin Durant’s 21 fourth-quarter points (he scored 42 total), finally gaining the lead on one of his almighty dunks.
Russell Westbrook (22 points) and Reggie Jackson (15 points) also starred in the win for Oklahoma City.
The opening series with the Grizzlies is a rematch of a second round playoff series from last season. The Grizzlies won 4-1, but the Thunder were playing without the injured Westbrook.
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