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. Nike MLB Jerseys Autographed . "I dont know that were close," said general manager Alex Anthopoulos. "I just think, right now, the acquisition cost just doesnt work for us right now. I dont know if I can quantify how far off or things like that that they might be but I would say we continue to have dialogue. Nike MLB Jerseys From China . PAUL, Minn. http://www.cheapmlbjerseyssigned.com/ . The Cleveland Indians, Tampa Bay Rays, and Texas Rangers all won on Sunday meaning the Rangers will host the Rays in a play-in game on Monday. Cheap MLB Jerseys Authentic .35 million, one-year contract that avoided salary arbitration. Plouffe batted .254 with 14 home runs and 52 RBIs in 477 at-bats last season, his second as a regular in the lineup. Discount Nike MLB Jerseys . According to a report from the Winnipeg Free Press, the Bombers will name Acting GM Kyle Walters to the post full time. Melbourne United star Chris Goulding scored 30 points to hold off the Cairns Taipans in a tight 84-79 NBL victory on Friday night.Held to a season-low 22 points in the first half, Cairns roared back from 14 points down in the third term to lead with two minutes remaining.But Gouldings eighth three-pointer of the night put the home side ahead for good, Ramone Moore closing the match from the free throw line with 7.5 seconds left.United had lost five straight matches coinciding with Gouldings absence due to an ankle injury.With new American import Casper Ware joining Goulding in a new-look backcourt, United appeared headed for a comfortable win before the visitors launched an impressive comeback.Ware made an immediate impression on the home fans by scoring his first NBL points with a long three-pointer, with Goulding announcing his return soon after with a long bomb of his own.United ended the quarter ahead 20-12 with Cairns failing to hit from outside or earn a trip to the free throw line.Tai Wesley scored Melbournes opening five points of the second quarter to push the lead into double digits as Cairns struggled to find any offensive rhythm, missing all eight three-point attempts for the half.In stark contrast, Gouldings third triple sent United into the main break up 36-22.But Cairns scored ten straight points to stay in the match and hit the lead in the closing stages before Melbourne found their poise to close out the match..ddddddddddddMelbourne coach Dean Demopoulos praised Goulding after the enigmatic guard guided United to a vital win on his return to action.(Chris) has been going crazy sitting around, Demopoulos said.Hes a high-energy guy with an unbelievable motor and to be inactive and have to watch, its torture for a player like him.I couldnt be happier with how he played.Goulding was pleased his side found a way to win after the visitors hit the front in the fourth quarter.We probably would have liked to have finished it in a different fashion, he said.To be challenged like that, I think it could have gone the other way pretty quickly but we dug deep, we stayed together, we got some big stops, some big rebounds and made some big shots.Taipans coach Aaron Fearne said a couple of late missed shots cost his side, but he was more concerned with the first-half effort.Just a disgraceful first half, Fearne said.We lacked energy, lacked some enthusiasm and then came out in the second half and played with some energy.fensive rhythm, missing all eight three-point attempts for the half.In stark contrast, Gouldings third triple sent United into the main break up 36-22.But Cairns scored ten straight points to stay in the match and hit the lead in the closing stages before Melbourne found their poise to close out the match. cheap falcons jerseys cheap ravens jerseys cheap bills jerseys cheap bears jerseys cheap bengals jerseys cheap cowboys jerseys cheap lions jerseys cheap texans jerseys cheap colts jerseys cheap jaguars jerseys cheap chiefs jerseys cheap rams jerseys cheap dolphins jerseys cheap vikings jerseys cheap saints jerseys cheap giants jerseys cheap jets jerseys cheap eagles jerseys cheap steelers jerseys cheap 49ers jerseys ' ' '