Los Angeles Clippers vs. Oklahoma City Thunder: Watch NBA PLAYOFFS LIVE: Free Streaming Online: NBA Basketball from Chesapeake Energy Arena at 9:30 PM ET

The Clippers initially were reeling after the incendiary racial comments by owner Donald Sterling that got him banned from the NBA for life.

The team unified and rallied to beat the Warriors in seven games, setting up a Western Conference semifinal against Kevin Durant and the Thunder that starts Monday.

The Thunder fought through a different kind of challenge -- a familiar foe with a difficult style. Oklahoma City survived a grind-it-out series against the Grizzlies and prevailed in seven games.

There should be a lot less grinding and a lot more running and gunning in this matchup.

Los Angeles led the NBA in scoring during the regular season with 107.9 points per game. All-Star forward Blake Griffin has improved his all-around game, and Paul is perhaps the league's best point guard.

"This team runs at a high level, they pass the ball up the floor at a high level," Durant said. "They advance the ball, they have athletic guys and shooters all around. Our defense is going to be tested."

Durant is the league's scoring champion, and point guard Russell Westbrook is one of the NBA's best athletes. The Thunder ranked fifth in scoring this season with 106.2 points per contest.

Griffin said playing the Warriors helped them get ready for the Thunder.

"Defensively, it prepared us to really be on our rotations and understand that nothing is going to be perfect, but we just have got to work it out," he said.

The game is live streaming on www.nbalivestreamfree.net