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Thunder vs. Clippers: OKC hopes to stop Lob City

Oklahoma City hosts Los Angeles in a battle of first-place teams.

Richard Rowe-US PRESSWIRE

The Oklahoma City Thunder host another West favorite as Blake Griffin and the Los Angeles Clippers roll into Chesapeake Energy Arena for a 6:30 p.m. tilt.

Griffin and Chris Paul get all the publicity for the Clippers, but Jamal Crawford has been their biggest scoring threat. After a disappointing year in Portland last season, Crawford has provided a spark for Los Angeles. Averaging almost 20 points per game to lead the club, Crawford is shooting nearly 50 percent from the field and 44 percent from behind the arc, and has made a reputation for not being afraid to take any shot on the floor.

The Clippers' physical front line of Griffin and DeAndre Jordan should also provide a test for Kendrick Perkins, Nick Collison, and Serge Ibaka, who will be responsible for stopping "Lob City." Said Collison on the match-up:

"We'll try to make them score over us as much as possible. The spin lobs, the tricks, there's stuff you want to take out, but also the turnovers, the live ball turnovers when they're running in transition. It's hard to stop any team, but especially them with their athletes. Taking away the easy ones will be a big part of it."

Both teams already hold multiple game leads in their divisions. It's just the third game outside of Los Angeles for the Clippers this season.

When: 6:30 p.m. CT, Chesapeake Energy Arena

TV: ESPN