LOS ANGELES — Kevin Durant had 26 points, Jeff Green added 19 and the Oklahoma City Thunder dismantled the Los Angeles Clippers 126-85 in both team’s season finale on Wednesday night.
Oklahoma led by as many as 33 in the third quarter against the Clippers, who were booed continuously throughout.
The win came after the Thunder announced interim coach Scott Brooks as the team’s new head coach heading into next season.
Los Angeles stumbled to the finish line and did so without coach Mike Dunleavy, who was ejected in the third after arguing a call with an official.
Eric Gordon had 22 to lead the Clippers, who failed to sweep the Thunder this season and lost nine of their last 10. The Clippers finished the season 19-63, their eighth worst-record in franchise history.
Oklahoma dominated Los Angeles on the boards 49-32 and penetrated the lanes. The Thunder went on a 16-4 run late in the third period to build an insurmountable lead and rookie Russell Westbrook had two highlight-reel dunks — one off an alley-oop pass and the other on a drive — to make it 90-57 with less than two minutes remaining.
Mike Taylor’s buzzer beating 52-footer to end the third quarter was just about the only play to elicit cheers from the crowd for the Clippers.
Los Angeles played poorly on defense and had 22 turnovers. Gordon, Taylor and Chris Kaman were the only players to score in double digits for the Clippers, the second-worst team in the NBA.
They were outscored 62-42 in the paint and the Thunder, who finished 2-7 in April, had 17 fast-break points.
Six players scored in double digits for Oklahoma.
The Thunder started both the first and second quarters on 6-0 runs and built a 21-point lead going into halftime. The Clippers had no answer for either Durant or Green. Both scored at will early on. Durant and Green combined for 28 points before the second half started and were catalysts in two separate runs for Oklahoma.
Clippers guard Baron Davis struggled with his shooting and was 1-for-5 in the first half. He finished with eight points.
Notes: Clippers F Zach Randolph missed the finale because of a
mild concussion. … Durant graded himself as OK for the season even though he raised his average in both points (by five) and rebounds (plus-2.2). “I need to get better on defense and finding my teammates for open shots,” the second pick of the 2007 draft said. … The Clippers’ Al Thornton, notorious for munching on McDonald’s before games, said he will cut out all fast food and hire a chef to eat healthier in preparation for next season. Thornton has a torn tendon in his right shoulder and has not played the last five games.
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