LOS ANGELES -- When the final buzzer sounded on the longest two weeks of the Los Angeles Clippers careers, they felt more exhaustion than elation. While coach Doc Rivers high-fived fans and pumped his fist at the crowd, Blake Griffin and Chris Paul quietly congratulated each other. They had just persevered through seven exhausting playoff games amid enormous distractions leading to their owners lifetime banishment from the NBA. A franchise that once redefined losing was a winner despite it all -- and theres no telling how much farther these new Clippers can go. Griffin scored 24 points, Paul had 22 points and 14 assists, and the Clippers outlasted the Golden State Warriors 126-121 in Game 7 on Saturday night to win their first-round playoff series. "Im just happy we pulled it out," Paul said. "Its going to sound crazy, but it was all about tonight. Everything else was in the past. We didnt dwell on all that stuff, and not to diminish how serious everything has been in the past week or so. It was all about basketball tonight." Jamal Crawford scored 22 points for the third-seeded Clippers, who earned the franchises third playoff series win in 38 years with the highest degree of off-court difficulty imaginable. Less than a week after dumping their team warmup jerseys at centre court in a pregame gesture of defiance against Donald Sterling, the Clippers earned a cathartic win and a second-round date with the Oklahoma City Thunder, starting Monday night. "I just thought with all this stuff, this team just needed this win," Rivers said. "This was a hard week. It feels like two months. I just needed to be able to smile and laugh and cheer, and be proud of something. And I was very proud of my players." Sterling was banned for life from the NBA on Tuesday after a recording of racist comments by the 80-year-old billionaire was made public. The Clippers endured sleepless nights, constant public scrutiny and a failed attempt to close out the series in Game 6 before they finally hung on to beat Golden State. Sterlings long-estranged wife, Rochelle, cheered and clapped from the back of the lower bowl of Staples Center, where most of the advertising signage was illuminated again after the advertiser walkout sparked by Sterlings comments. "Its been a crazy ride for us," said DeAndre Jordan, who had 15 points and 18 rebounds. "I commend our guys for sticking with it. Its been a roller coaster, but we came out and had a job to do, and we did it." Stephen Curry had 33 points and nine assists, but Golden State blew a lead with 2:10 left in Game 7. Draymond Green scored 24 points for the Warriors, who lost their first Game 7 since 1977 and failed to advance in consecutive postseasons for the first time since that same year. "We fought so hard this whole series, this whole season," Curry said. "It stings. Its disappointing for sure." An exhausting series ended with one last well-played game between the California powers who traded the lead throughout the second half. Los Angeles couldnt seize control of the first home Game 7 in franchise history until the final minutes -- and the Clippers did it in fitting Lob City style. After Griffin put the Clippers ahead for good by muscling home a layup, Jordan blocked Currys layup attempt to set up a fast break leading to J.J. Redicks lob to Griffin for a thunderous slam. Jordan added a dunk on an offensive rebound, and Griffin spun in the air and threw home a layup while getting fouled with 56 seconds left. Jordan threw down another alley-oop from Griffin with 22 seconds left, but Green hit a 3-pointer to trim the lead to 120-118. But Redick, Paul and Darren Collison hit two free throws apiece in the final 12 seconds to ice it. Redick scored 20 points for the Clippers, and Jordan put in a stellar low-post performance for the two-time Pacific Division champions. Klay Thompson managed just 15 points for the Warriors, failing to make a shot in the fourth quarter. Curry had just three field goals in the second half. "I thought it was a hard-fought series that everyone in the organization should be proud of," Jackson said. "We all went through it. The statements that were made were made to all of us. ... We did a good job handling what could go down as the toughest moment in league history, as far as what we had to go through." The game could have been the last for Golden State coach Mark Jackson, who might be on shaky ground with Warriors ownership despite presiding over the long-struggling franchises best two-year stretch in two decades. Curry said it would be "a shock" if Jackson wasnt the Warriors coach next year. "I dont get caught up in it," Jackson said. "Im totally confident, and I have total faith that Im going to be fine." NOTES: The Warriors havent won a Game 7 on the road since the Philadelphia Warriors beat the St. Louis Bombers in the 1948 BAA semifinals. ... Jordan set a franchise record for rebounds in a single playoff series, surpassing Bob McAdoos 94 rebounds for the Buffalo Braves in 1975. Jordan had already set the club record for blocked shots in a series. ... Warriors big man Jermaine ONeal played only three minutes after a collision with Los Angeles Glen Davis in Game 6 left him with a bone bruise on his right kneecap. Discount NBA Jerseys . Top-seeded Djokovic, who is making only his second appearance this year after reaching the quarterfinals of the Australian Open, was a 6-3, 6-3 winner over 54th-ranked Istomin of Uzbekistan. "It wasnt as easy as the scoreline indicates," said Djokovic, who has won in Dubai on four occasions. Wholesale NBA Jerseys . The Oilers have been shut out in three straight home games and are in last place in the Western Conference with a 4-14-2 record. "Things have obviously not gone as well as I would have thought probable. https://www.nbachinajerseys.us/.com) - The Carolina Hurricanes hope to remain perfect at home in January on Friday night as they welcome the Vancouver Canucks to PNC Arena. Nike NBA Jerseys China . Patrick Kane and the Chicago Blackhawks were proof of that on Wednesday night. Cheap NBA Jerseys Authentic .J. - Trying to learn and absorb the new West Coast offence being installed by new offensive co-ordinator Ben McAdoo, the New York Giants wrapped their final organized team activity Thursday before a three-day mini-camp next week.Lydia Ko says it feels like shes going home. The New Zealander became the youngest winner on the LPGA Tour when she captured the CN Canadian Womens Open at the age of 15 two summers ago. Ko won again last year, and will headline the field for the 2014 tournament -- now known as the Canadian Pacific Womens Open -- when it gets going later this month at London Hunt & Country Club. "I love playing in Canada and the support Ive been getting is huge," the 17-year-old said on a conference call Monday. "To me, Canada feels quite close to what its like in New Zealand. It feels really welcoming whenever I go there. "Having my first LPGA win in Canada, thats huge and thats always going to be with me. They always say the first is one of the most memorable and its definitely been the case." Tournament director Brent McLaughlin said the Canadian golf community has a strong connection to Ko because of the success shes had the last two years. "Any time you see young talents just excel youre proud of them," he said. "Its even brought further to the forefront when you feel like youve had a part in helping them along. "People need heroes. They need to rally around heroes and they need a reason to watch." Ko was an amateur and didnt collect any winnings when she won her back-to-back Canadian championships at Vancouver Golf Club in Coquitlam, B.C., and at Edmontons Royal Mayfair Golf Club. She turned pro in October 2013 and has already won two tournaments this season, including the Marathon Classic last month. "This year has been very exciting, first year on the tour as an LPGA rookie. Its been a fun year. Ive learned a lot of things along the way," said Ko. "I really look forward to going back and playing the Canadian Womens Open. The last two years, the Canadian Open was a very exciting tournament for me." While shes happy with her decision to play on tour full time, Ko saaid dealing with the weekly grind has been an adjustment.dddddddddddd "Ive been trying to balance life outside the course and not over doing it and taking some time off," she said. "Outside the golf course I do the normal teenage things -- watch TV, talk to my friends on Facebook. "I think that kind of helps me to bring back my life outside of golf and outside of what I do most of the time, and actually be like a normal teenager and talk about school and gossip about things." Ko -- who was named one of Time Magazines top 100 most influential people in April -- is still adjusting to her fame, including being viewed as a role model. "Thats pretty cool because Im only 17 myself," she said. "When I hear these little girls or boys say Youre my role model and I look up to you it is kind of cool and it makes me feel like I need to become a better person, a better player so that I live up to what they expect of me." Ko is one of a number of big names set play at this years Canadian Open in London, Ont., from Aug. 18 to 24, but one player who wont be taking part due to injury is Michelle Wie. "Shes such an awesome player and it would have been great to have Michelle there because we all know that she brings a lot of the crowds out," said Ko. "Hopefully the crowds will still come out. Its really unfortunate that it happened during this time." Meanwhile, the Canadian contingent will be led by 16-year-old Brooke Henderson of Smiths Falls, Ont., who finished second at last weeks U.S. Womens Amateur tournament in Glen Cove, N.Y. Ko said there is a buzz on tour about playing in Canada, not only for the $US2.25-million purse, but because of how the tournament is received. "When players talk to each other ... they want to go and play and theyre super excited to play. They dont want to miss out on it," she said. "Its been a great experience for me" ' ' '