NBA Playoffs: Clippers y Lakers a punto de quedar eliminados (VIDEO)

LOS ANGELES (AP) — Tanto los Clippers como los Lakers —de Los Angeles— han quedado al filo de la eliminación en la postemporada de la NBA.

Los Clippers perdieron el sábado en la noche por 96-86 ante los Spurs de San Antonio y los Lakers cayeron por 103-100 frente al Thunder de Oklahoma.

En el otro lado de la moneda, los Spurs y el Thunder están a una victoria de clasificarse a la siguiente fase de los playoffs y si la concretan dejaran a Los Angeles sin equipo en la competición.

Con sus triunfos a domicilio, los Spurs se pusieron en ventaja de 3-0 sobre los Clippers y el Thunder se fue arriba 3-1 sobre los Lakers en las series de semifinales de la Conferencia del Oeste.

Los Spurs jugarán el domingo a domicilio el decisivo cuarto partido contra los Clippers y el Thunder disputará el lunes de local su quinto encuentro contra los Lakers.

"Tendremos que jugar con la idea que es un partido de vida o muerte. Caso contrario, no será nada agradable", dijo Blake Griffin, quien consiguió 28 puntos y 16 rebotes para los Clippers en el encuentro. Griffin jugó con una lesión en la cadera y otra en la rodilla derecha.

El suplente Mo Williams logró 19 puntos para los Clippers, que enfrentan un panorama desalentador el domingo en el cuarto partido en el Staples Center. Ningún equipo se ha recuperado de una desventaja de 3-0 para ganar una serie.

"Hay que seguir peleando", añadió Chris Paul, de los Clippers. Paul terminó con 12 puntos y 11 asistencias, además de quedar mermado por molestias en la cadera.

Tim Duncan anotó 19 puntos y los Spurs aprovecharon un tramo de 23-0 en el tercer período para remontar una desventaja previa de 24 puntos.

"No fue nuestra intención quedar tan rezagados", dijo Duncan, quien a sus 36 años ambiciona su quinto campeonato de la NBA y primero desde 2006-2007.

Tony Parker anotó 23 puntos, el novato Kawhi Leonard otros 14 tantos y el argentino Manu Ginóbili 13 para que los Spurs ganaran su 17mo partido consecutivo y mejoraran su foja a 7-0 en los playoffs.

En la victoria cerrada por 103-100 del Thunder sobre los Lakers, Russell Westbrook anotó 10 de sus 37 puntos en la remontada en el último cuarto —lleno de emociones_, en tanto que Kevin Durant aportó 31 tantos y acertó una canasta triple para el empate a 13,7 segundos del final.

Tras la barrida que propinó a los Mavericks de Dallas en la primera ronda, el Thunder está a un triunfo de eliminar a los Lakers y si lo concreta habrá echado de la postemporada a los últimos dos campeones de la NBA.

Serge Ibaka anotó 14 puntos para el Thunder —segundo preclasificado— que sólo necesita ganar su próximo partido para lograr su segundo boleto consecutivo a la final de la Conferencia del Oeste.

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