Basketball: Thunder edge out Clippers to hold on to 2nd place in the West

Oklahoma City Thunder forward Kevin Durant (35) reacts after scoring against the Los Angeles Clippers during the third quarter at Staples Center. Russell Westbrook scored 30 points, grabbed 11 rebounds and dished out six assists, and the Oklahom
Oklahoma City Thunder forward Kevin Durant (35) reacts after scoring against the Los Angeles Clippers during the third quarter at Staples Center. Russell Westbrook scored 30 points, grabbed 11 rebounds and dished out six assists, and the Oklahoma City Thunder held on for a 107-101 victory over the Los Angeles Clippers on Wednesday. -- PHOTO: USA TODAY SPORTS / KELVIN CUO

LOS ANGELES (Reuters) - Russell Westbrook scored 30 points, grabbed 11 rebounds and dished out six assists, and the Oklahoma City Thunder held on for a 107-101 victory over the Los Angeles Clippers on Wednesday.

Kevin Durant added 27 points as Oklahoma City (57-21) took a 2.5-game lead over the Clippers for the second seed in the Western Conference play-off race. Blake Griffin had 30 points and 12 rebounds for the Clippers (55-24), who lost for the second time in three games.

In the Eastern Conference, the Atlanta Hawks overcame a nine-point deficit in the fourth quarter to earn a critical win for their play-off push, beating the Boston Celtics 105-97.

Jeff Teague recorded 19 points and eight assists, Kyle Korver added 17 and eighth-place Atlanta pushed their lead to two games over the idle Knicks with four games to play. Atlanta (35-43) play the Brooklyn Nets on Friday, before returning home against the Miami Heat in a preview of a potential first-round play-off match-up.

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