Two teams in the headlines will do battle in the Western Conference semifinals when the Oklahoma City Thunder host the Los Angeles Clippers in the series-opener Monday night at Chesapeake Energy Arena. For the second-seeded Thunder, "Mr. Unreliable" became something of a rallying cry. The Oklahoman ran that headline describing Kevin Durant, who will probably be handed the leagues MVP award before a home game during this series. Durant responded with 36 and 33 points in the final two games against the Memphis Grizzlies, both double-digit victories for OKC in elimination games during the first round. "Hes one of the best players on the planet," Oklahoma City coach Scott Brooks said of his superstar. "Hes going to continue to help us win games and move us forward, not only with his shot-making, but his playmaking." Sadly, the Clippers headlines were of a much more serious tone during the first round against Golden State. Their owner, Donald Sterling, was caught on tape making racist comments. It affected the team in its Game 4 loss, then, before Game 5, NBA commissioner Adam Silver banned Sterling for life and prompted the Board of Governors to force Sterling to sell the team. Through this tumultuous time, the third-seeded Clippers hung on for a Game 7 win over the Warriors. "I just wanted us to win the game," said Clippers coach Doc Rivers. "Not because of all of this stuff, but this team just needed this win. I thought our guys fought. The adversity, they went through it. It drained them and they found enough energy to find a way to win the game." Each team features two superstars. For the Thunder, Durant averaged 29.9 points, 9.6 rebounds, 3.4 assists and 1.6 blocks against the Grizz. Granted, Durant shot 44 percent and 32 percent from 3-point range, which are low numbers by his standards. Russell Westbrook averaged 25.6 points in the Grizzlies series, but he took 23 shot attempts a game, which was the same number as Durant. Westbrook shot 38 percent from the field and committed 4.9 turnovers per game. For LA, Chris Paul is the leader and scored 22 points and handed out 14 assists in the Game 7 victory. Blake Griffin blossomed into a well-rounded offensive machine. And special mention to Clippers big man DeAndre Jordan, who averaged 12.1 points, 15.1 rebounds and 4.0 blocks against the Warriors. During the season, the two squads were evenly matched. The Thunder have won five of the last seven meetings, but the two sides split four games this season and each team managed a win on the road. The Thunder were eliminated in this round last season by the Grizzlies when Westbrook got hurt in the first round against the Houston Rockets. The Clippers have never advanced past the second round in franchise history. Game 2 will be Wednesday night in OKC. Bryan Trottier Jersey . Now Arizonas new manager is hoping Yasmany Tomas can have the same effect on the Diamondbacks. Pat LaFontaine Jersey . Aaron Hill and Cliff Pennington hit home runs in the first inning for the Diamondbacks, who beat the Miami Marlins 3-2 on Friday night. http://www.islanderssale.com/authentic-m...landers-jersey/. Behind the talents of rookie Johnny Gaudreau, the Flames will look to keep pace Thursday night when they face the Minnesota Wild in the second of a six-game homestand. Clark Gillies Jersey . Roy says he will know more about Duchenes potential playing status Sunday. Duchene has been out since damaging the MCL in his left knee when he ran into a teammate against San Jose on March 29. Hes been skating on his own all week, before joining the team Saturday hours before a pivotal game in a series tied at 2. Denis Potvin Jersey .ca contributor Grant McCagg provides a look at some risers and fallers on the prospect watch.WINDSOR JUNCTION, N.S. -- On what was already a long day, Roger Sloan decided to play one extra hole and boy, was it worth it. Sloan, of Merritt, B.C., calmly rolled in an eight-foot putt on the first playoff hole to defeat Derek Fathauer and capture the inaugural Nova Scotia Open. It was the Canadians first Web.com Tour win and it came after the tournaments final 37 holes were played on a marathon of a Sunday. “It feels good. I dont know what feels better,” Sloan joked. “To win or to be done today. That was a long day.” After draining his final putt and raising his arms in the air, the crowd broke out into a spontaneous rendition of "O Canada." It had meaning for the Calgary-born Sloan, who said hed earmarked the first-year tournament stop on his calendar as soon as he heard it announced. His great-grandfather emigrated from Holland to Canada in 1955 and landed at Pier 21 in Halifax. “Deep down, I wanted to win this tournament since I saw it was in the works,” Sloan stated. “Its just so refreshing to be back in Canada. Im excited to have done this on Canadian soil.” The victory, which came while his mother and aunt looked on from the large gallery, gave him $117,000 and moved him to 12th on the tours money list, up from 80th. It also means hes in excellent position to finish the year inside the top 25 and earn a spot on next years PGA Tour. But the tall, blond-haired Sloan, who now makes his home in Houston wasnt thinking about that just yet. He was there to savour the win and to bask in the satisfaction of getting the job done. Holding the Nova Scotian Crystal trophy over his head, it was clear the main thing on his mind was breaking through for a win. “All year, Ive been jumping up leaderboards and I get a little bit of nerves and make a bogey," he said. "You know whats on the line. You play well youre going to make money and, if you make money, youre going to get a PGA Tour card. And Im absolutely thrilled that I didnt let that distract me this week. I did not think about the PGA Tour once.” Of course, the money will come in handy. Sloan has no sponsors and has essentially bankrolled his own career to this point. It will also be interesting now to see if Golf Canada will find a place for him in the RBC Canadian Openn in a few weeks time.dddddddddddd Despite some requests, hed been turned down for a spot up to this point. Sloan held a share of the 36-hole lead and sat on that when tropical storm Arthur forced a suspension of play on Saturday. When he started the third round early Sunday morning, he admitted there were some nerves. “When I teed off in the morning in the third round, thats probably the most nervous I was all day,” said Sloan. “My first seven or eight holes, I scrambled very well. I didnt hit too many great tee shots, I didnt hit too many quality approach shots but my short game and my putter kept me in it for the first eight holes. After that, finally I started to get a little bit of rhythm, after that I felt comfortable the rest of the day.” After finishing his first round of the day, Sloan remained tied for the lead with Derek Fathauer at -10, but some shaky play in his final 18 changed that, as he bogeyed the eighth, ninth and 12th holes. Meanwhile a six-under front nine by Fathauer gave him the lead. On the 17th, Sloan hit a hybrid to the green, but the shot landed left, took a horrible kick, rolled down a steep embankment and nearly into a hazard. Somehow, he managed to extricate himself from the tangle for a par. Playing two groups ahead, Fathauer stumbled in with bogeys on the 16th and 18th, the latter a three-putt on the tricky greens at Ashburn Golf Club. Walking up the final hole, Sloan, with his ball sitting on the fringe, asked his caddie where their position. I had zero awareness all day long, Sloan said. [On 18] I turned to my caddie and I asked him ‘Do you know where we stand? He said ‘Yes, I said ‘OK go ahead and tell me and he said ‘Well were sitting in good position and if you want to make a playoff you just need to get up and down.” The victory makes the Sloan the third Canadian to win a Web.com Tour event on Canadian soil, joining Richard Zokol (2001 Samsung Canadian PGA Championship) and David Hearn (2004 Alberta Classic). And he joins Adam Hadwin, who showered Sloan with beer after the win, as Canadians with victories this year. After a long day and the biggest win of his career, what were Sloans plans for celebration? “Sleep,” he stated. “I have a 5:30 a.m. flight.” Cheap Buffalo Sabres GearWholesale Calgary Flames JerseysCheap Adidas Colorado Avalanche JerseysMontreal Canadiens Outlet StoreWholesale New Jersey Devils JerseysAdidas Arizona Coyotes JerseysCheap Adidas Boston Bruins JerseysCheap Adidas Carolina Hurricanes JerseysChicago Blackhawks Shop Free ShippingWholesale Columbus Blue Jackets JerseysDallas Stars Shop Free ShippingCheap Adidas Detroit Red Wings JerseysAnaheim Ducks Jerseys ChinaWholesale Edmonton Oilers JerseysFlorida Panthers Shop Free ShippingWholesale Los Angeles Kings JerseysMinnesota Wild Outlet StoreCheap Adidas Nashville Predators JerseysCheap Adidas New York Islanders JerseysNew York Rangers Winter Classic JerseysCheap Adidas Ottawa Senators JerseysCheap Adidas Philadelphia Flyers JerseysWholesale Pittsburgh Penguins JerseysCheap Adidas San Jose Sharks JerseysSt. Louis Blues Winter Classic JerseysWholesale Tampa Bay Lightning JerseysToronto Maple Leafs Outlet StoreVancouver Canucks Outlet StoreCheap Adidas Vegas Golden Knights JerseysCheap Adidas Washington Capitals JerseysCheap Adidas Winnipeg Jets Jerseys ' ' '