The Los Angeles Clippers have risen victorious from a controversial week in the NBA, as they beat the Golden State Warriors 126-121 to claim a 4-3 first-round playoff win and progress to the semi-finals.
Blake Griffin was the standout performer for the Clippers as he totalled 24 points, while Chris Paul also shone with 22 points and 14 assists at the Staples Center on Saturday.
The Indiana Pacers have also made it through the first stages of the playoffs, thanks to a 4-3 series victory compounded by a 92-80 win over the Atlanta Hawks at the Bankers Life Fieldhouse last night.
The win came courtesy of the match-winning Paul George, who scored a postseason career-high 30 points, while also adding 11 rebounds for his sixth double-double of the series.
Finally, in Oklahoma, Russell Westbrook became just the second player in NBA history to have two triple-doubles in a Game 7 encounter, as he led the Oklahoma City Thunder to a 4-3 series win over the Memphis Grizzlies with a 120-109 victory on Sunday night.
The Thunder were helped over the line thanks to a telling partnership between Kevin Durant and Westbrook, who combined to score 60 points for the hosts.
Results in full: Indiana Pacers 92-80 Atlanta Hawks, Oklahoma City Thunder 120-109 Memphis Grizzlies, Los Angeles Clippers 126-121 Golden State Warriors
Christopher Dodd
