Skip to main content

Clippers focus on trying to stop rest of Thunder

By WTOP Staff

BETH HARRIS
AP Sports Writer

LOS ANGELES (AP) — Kevin Durant and Russell Westbrook are back to their old selves after getting thrashed by 17 points to open their series against Los Angeles.

The Clippers can live with their numbers — Durant topping 30 points in two straight games and Westbrook just missing another triple-double; it’s the rest of the Thunder they want to stop.

“We got to come right back at them,” Blake Griffin said Saturday.

After getting little offensive support in losing Game 1 at home, Durant and Westbrook have seen their teammates step up. Defensive stopper Thabo Sefolosha scored 14 points in Game 2 before foul trouble limited him Friday.

Serge Ibaka missed just one shot in scoring 20 points, and reserves Reggie Jackson and Caron Butler chipped in 14 points each in giving Oklahoma City a 2-1 lead in the Western Conference semifinal series heading into Game 4 on Sunday.

“We can’t then give Caron Butler wide-open 3s,” Clippers coach Doc Rivers said. “Serge Ibaka has yet to put the ball on the floor. I’d like to see him dribble one time.”

The Thunder have won two games in a row after that Game 1 shellacking, which was their worst loss since moving to Oklahoma City.

Behind Durant’s 36 points and 23 from Westbrook, the Thunder shot 56 percent in winning 118-112 on Friday. The Clippers were held to 45 percent, while making 21 of 25 free throws and committing just six turnovers. That many points, free throws and so few mistakes usually win them games.

“What we didn’t get is stops,” Rivers said. “When we get multiple stops, we get in transition and we get easy baskets. In this series so far we really haven’t gotten in transition at all and they’ve taken that away from us. We got to do a better job of getting stops in a row so we can get some kind of offensive rhythm in transition.”

Durant said Game 4 will be the toughest of the series, knowing the Clippers are unlikely to shoot as poorly as they did Friday night.

“Our guys are locked in on the next game,” he said. “We haven’t played our best defensive game yet and we want to bring that. We’re concerned how much better we can get and grow.”

Westbrook has exemplified his team’s growth since the series began, taking fewer shots and focusing more on passing and getting his teammates involved.

“I got into a rhythm and I’m trying to get into a routine,” he said. “I’m trying to balance my game and it’s tough at times, but as long as we are winning it’s all good.”

Griffin was bloodied but unbowed after taking an elbow in the nose from Ibaka. The Clippers’ All-Star forward didn’t get the foul call he wanted in the third quarter Friday; instead, his team was charged with a 3-second violation.

“It’s a little bit baffling how something like that happens,” said Griffin, who didn’t think the elbow was intentional. “I get hit in the nose a lot and don’t bleed like that. It’s going to take some force, so it’s interesting to me how something like that happens.”

Griffin attributed his bulldog mentality to the way the referees called the game. Taking that same approach in defending Durant and Westbrook is a different story. Those two usually end up at the free throw line, where both are top-notch shooters.

“You can’t really get up into them,” Griffin said. “Everybody else we need to do a better job of limiting their easy looks by being up into them.”

Chris Paul had 21 points, 16 assists and no turnovers playing 42 minutes Friday, when Griffin scored 34 points. Jackson and ex-Clipper Butler combined to outscore the Clippers’ reserves on their own.

Offensively, Paul will be looking to get J.J. Redick more shots than the six he attempted in Game 3. Defensively, he wants to limit the number of easy shots taken by Durant and Westbrook.

“We just got to play and not necessarily worry about being desperate,” Paul said. “We understand it’s not time to hang our heads. We just need to get game four.”

In their humble playoff history, the Clippers have never come back from a 2-1 deficit to win a series.

“Any of those stats don’t matter,” Rivers said, laughing. “If you’d said the Lakers or the Celtics, then that would matter.”

Copyright 2014 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.

Don’t Settle for Student Loans to Pay for Online Education

By WTOP Staff
Online college programs are becoming a more popular choice for prospective students, with one study finding that more than 6 million students enrolled in at least one online course in fall 2015. The popularity of these courses can be attributed in part to their flexibility with working adults' schedules, students' ability to progress more quickly through online programs and, oftentimes, cheaper tuition. [See 10 low-cost online bachelor's programs for out-of-state students.]Online degrees can be beneficial to many college students, but some studies have shown online learners complete their programs at lower rates than students at traditional brick-and-mortar campuses. Individuals with student loans but no degree comprise two-thirds of defaulted borrowers. Though these numbers are not encouraging, just like for traditional programs, there are ways to reduce how much you'll need to borrow for an online program to ensure you won't become one of these statistics. Don't just settle on borrowing student loans to cover the whole cost of your program and living expenses. Instead, start thinking about how to cut costs and cover your balance in different ways, such as the following. -- Grants and scholarships: Even though you are taking an online course, you can still apply and receive grants and scholarships. But your first step should be to complete the Free Application for Federal Student Aid, commonly referred to as the FAFSA, which will allow you to receive a Pell Grant if your expected family contribution is low enough. The EFC criteria and award amounts are adjusted annually, but the 2017-2018 academic year awards range from $606 to $5,920, which could significantly lower the amount you borrow annually. Your next step is to apply for scholarships. You can start by checking online scholarship search engines, such as the Salt Scholarship Search, College Board's BigFuture and Peterson's. But don't forget to take advantage of local organizations and your school's financial aid office. Both may offer scholarships that you can't find with a national scholarship search. [Review these 10 sites to kick off your scholarship search.]For instance, organizations like the Elks Club, Knights of Columbus or the Rotary Club typically offer scholarships annually to local students. Just because you're going to school online doesn't mean you're ineligible. Visit your local library for scholarship listings, and ask around town. You might be surprised how many local organizations offer scholarships. While these scholarships typically aren't large, every little bit counts. Each dollar you receive in a scholarship is a dollar you don't have to borrow and pay interest on. -- Work-study: Another option for online students may be work-study awards. Not all students enrolled in online programs are eligible, but students at some schools -- including, for example, SUNY Empire State College and Liberty University -- are. Work-study awards are not given upfront like scholarships and grants. In most cases, they are an offer to earn up to the awarded amount if you secure an eligible work-study job. While there is a misconception that all work-study jobs must be on campus, students can work for off-campus, nonprofit or public employers as long as the work is in the public's interest. You may be able to work for a for-profit employer if the job is relevant to your course of study. No matter who the outside employer is, it will need to have an established agreement with your college for you to receive work-study funds. Remember, to be eligible for federal financial aid, you must be enrolled and pursuing a degree or certificate. If you're not working toward a credential, Pell Grants and work-study won't be option, but you may still be able to take advantage of private scholarships -- just be sure to read the eligibility criteria carefully. [Explore what to know about financial aid in online programs.]-- Pay as you go: One of the great benefits to enrolling online is the flexible schedule, which can allow you to complete your college coursework around your responsibilities. But prospective students often overlook using their part- or full-time job earnings as an option for paying for college. Almost 80 percent of college students in 2015 worked at least part time while attending classes, according to the National Center for Education Statistics. By budgeting and thinking strategically about your college costs, you can likely reduce your dependence on student loans by paying a portion out of pocket. Many -- but not all -- online programs are less expensive than traditional programs and often have shorter payment periods. Six, eight or 10 weeks are common course durations. Because of the frequency of payments in an online setting, you may be well-placed to pay as you go and possibly avoid borrowing altogether. Attending college online and avoiding student loans may be challenging, but if you are willing to put in the effort, you can limit the amount you need to borrow. More from U.S. News Q&A: Understanding Student Loan Discharge Eligibility Student Loan Refinancing Isn't Right for All Borrowers
Read Next Story

Related Stories

Frustration grows in Venezuela as earthquake death toll reaches 1,430

Israel and Lebanon sign framework agreement with US in ‘first step’ toward peace, Rubio says

Trump-endorsed populist poised to become Colombia’s next president as rival challenges vote