Clan Wars » the ball deep in EWU territory twice in the third quarter, b

OKLAHOMA CITY -- After four straight blowout victories, the Los Angeles Clippers learned they can handle business in a close game.Blake Griffin scored 25 points, and the Clippers beat the Oklahoma City Thunder 110-108 on Friday night to improve the leagues top record and the best start in franchise history to 8-1.Oklahoma Citys Russell Westbrook missed what would have been a game-winning 3-pointer in the closing seconds.The Clippers had won their previous four games by an average of 24.5 points, so coach Doc Rivers wasnt sure how his team would handle a game with a tight finish. Los Angeles focused on slowing Westbrook, who burned them for 35 points in Oklahoma Citys 85-83 win in Los Angeles earlier in the month that gave the Clippers their only loss so far.Even though Andre Roberson and Domantas Sabonis found their shooting strokes as the Thunder made 16 of 28 3-pointers, the Clippers stuck to their defensive game plan.This is one of those games you can lose your trust in, Rivers said. Roberson was making 3s, Sabonis was making 3s, and were telling our guys to stay and clog the paint. And theyre looking at me like, `Why? We did it, and it worked out for us.Jamal Crawford scored 19 points and Chris Paul added 17 points and 10 assists for the Clippers.Westbrook had 29 points, 14 rebounds and nine assists, but he made just 9 of 25 shots. Victor Oladipo scored 18 points, Enes Kanter had 13 points and 11 rebounds and Roberson added 13 points and nine rebounds for Oklahoma City (6-3).The game was tied at 50 at halftime. The Clippers went on an 8-1 run early in the third quarter, highlighted by a spinning layup and 3-pointer by J.J. Redick, to go up 65-56. Griffin had 15 points on 7-for-8 shooting in the period to help the Clippers take an 82-74 lead in the fourth.I think our offense, spacing-wise, was really good, Griffin said. We attacked more, got out in transition, got some rebounds. Defensive stops led to some easy buckets.Westbrook tied the game at 102 with a 3-pointer with just over 2 minutes remaining, but the Clippers responded with a dunk by DeAndre Jordan and a 3-pointer by Crawford.The Thunder rallied again, but Westbrooks 28-footer was just off in the final seconds.Yeah, I probably should have drove it, but it was all right, Westbrook said.---TIP-INSClippers: Committed just five turnovers in each half. ... Jordan had 12 points and 13 rebounds. ... Jordan was called for a technical foul early in the third quarter.Thunder: Held the Clippers to 22.7 percent shooting in the first quarter to take a 24-16 lead. ... Oladipo scored 11 points in the first quarter. ... Westbrook was called for a technical after he disagreed with a foul call early in the third period. ... Roberson set a new career high with three 3-point goals. ... Sabonis made 4 of 5 3-pointers.HAPPY HOMECOMINGGriffin, an Oklahoma City native, has been booed in the past because hes been a thorn in the Thunders side. Now, with Kevin Durant gone, the fans have dreams of landing him in free agency. They showered Griffin with cheers during pregame introductions, which surprised him.A little bit, but its always nice to come back home, he said.QUOTABLEPaul, on how he guarded Westbrook: I did a lot differently tonight guarding Russ, he said. I didnt. It was Luc Mbah a Moute. That was the difference. I only guarded him a few times tonight.UP NEXTThe Clippers play at the Minnesota Timberwolves.The Thunder host the Orlando Magic and former teammate Serge Ibaka.---Follow Cliff Brunt on Twitter (at)CliffBruntAP. Cheap Nationals Jerseys China .com) - The game was all punts and field goals before Kodi Whitfields catch. Cheap Nationals Jerseys . -- Nathan Pancel scored twice as the Sudbury Wolves defeated the North Bay Battalion 4-2 on Saturday in Ontario Hockey League action. http://www.cheapnationalsjerseys.com/ . Louis Blues teammates who would also be participating in the Olympics, Alex Pietrangelo felt right at home, no different in some ways to the travel experience of any old road trip – save for the length of the journey, that is. Wholesale Nationals Jerseys .C. -- Manny Malhotra had two goals and an assist, leading the Carolina Hurricanes to a 6-3 win over the Ottawa Senators on Saturday. Cheap MLB Jerseys . The Australian is competing in his final season in Formula One and still looking for his first win this year. He will look to end Vettels run of six straight race wins on Sunday. Webber, who is fifth in the championship, earned his second pole from the past three races and 13th of his career. BOZEMAN, Mont. -- Gage Gubrud threw for 520 yards and four touchdowns to different receivers to lead Eastern Washington to a 41-17 win over Montana State on Saturday.Gubrud was 37 for 51, hitting Shaq Hill, Cooper Kupp, Jayce Gilder and Zach Wemberly for scores as keep the Eagles (6-1, 4-0) unbeaten in the Big Sky Conference.The Bobcats led from the opening drive until 2:27 was remaining in the half. MSU fumbled on its own 16 and the Eagles were in the end zone two plays later on a 9-yard TD run by Antoine Custer, Jr. to take a 21-17 advantage. EWU would tack on a 49-yard field goal by Roldan Alcobendas on the final play of the half, only their second halftime lead of the season, to go up 24-17.MSU quarterback Chris Murray contributed a pair of big first quarter plays, but was held in check after that. He threw a 57-yard touchdown pass to Conner Sullivan, then ran 70 yards for a score on the next possession giving the Bobcats (2-6, 0-5) a 14-7 lead.The Bobcats had the ball deep in EWU territory twice in the third quarter, but came away empty both times as they failed to keep pace with the Eagles.dddddddddddd Murray fumbled on the first drive and backup quarterback Tyler Bruggman was intercepted the second.Kupp and Hill both went over 100 yards receiving for EWU as the Eagles amassed 596 yards of total offense. Kupp tied the FCS record for consecutive games with a reception at 45.Nick LaSane ran for 85 yards on just five carries for MSU, while Murray ran for 74. Murray was just 5 for 12 passing for 71 yards and two interceptions to go along with two lost fumbles.TAKEAWAYEASTERN WASHINGTON: The Eagles, coming off a bye, beat the Bobcats for the fifth straight time.MONTANA STATE: The Bobcats continue to look for their first league win under new head coach Jeff Choate.UP NEXTEastern Washington hosts Montana in a crucial Big Sky game that may have league title implications. The Grizzlies were 2-1 in the conference coming into the day.Montana State has a weekend off before going to Southern Utah on Nov. 5. ' ' '