Mark Cuban didn’t think Russell Westbrook was an NBA superstar. The outspoken Dallas Mavericks owner may want to think again.
Westbrook had 36 points, 12 rebounds and nine assists, and the Oklahoma City Thunder beat the visiting Mavericks 118-104 on Monday to close out their Western Conference first-round play-off series, 4-1.
The third-seeded Thunder booked a spot in the conference semi-finals against the second-seeded San Antonio Spurs starting Saturday. The teams split the four-game regular-season series.
“I like our mindset, how locked in we are,” said Kevin Durant, who tossed in 33 points. “We’ve got to be prepared because they’re a solid team so we have to be solid and disciplined.”
Cuban created controversy saying Durant is the only superstar on the Thunder and Westbrook is an all-star but not a superstar.  
Thunder coach Billy Donovan thought otherwise of Westbrook, who had a league-best 18 triple-doubles this season.
“I’m really happy he’s on my team, I wouldn’t trade him for anybody,” he said. “There’s no question that Russell Westbrook is one of the best players in this league. To me, he’s a superstar as good as anyone in this league.”    
When asked to respond to Cuban’s comments Westbrook fumed, “He’s an idiot,” he said. “That’s all we got to say about that. He’s an idiot.”
Durant thought Cuban’s trash talk was a ploy to distract the Thunder.  “All that stuff was to get his players fired up and take us off our game,” he said. “But it didn’t work.”
Steven Adams had 15 and 10 rebounds for the Thunder, which shot 50.6 per cent from the floor and out-boarded their guests 42-35. “This series made our team better,” Donovan said. “We dealt with lot of confrontations, we got tested in these five games and hopefully we’re better for it.”
German juggernaut Dirk Nowitzki scored 24 points and Dwight Powell added 16 for the injury-depleted seventh-seeded Mavericks, who have not won a play-off series since the 2011 NBA Championship.
“The effort (with which) we competed in the series from start to finish was second to none,” Mavs coach Rick Carlisle said. “They were simply better, their two superstars were great in the series.”
Asked about Cuban’s comments, Carlisle said, “There were three superstars out there... Russell, KD (Durant) Dirk.” Nowitzki chimed in on Westbrook saying, “He’s pretty much un-guardable. He can drive left. He can go right. He can finish at the rim with the best of them.
“He’s probably the best offensive rebounding guard this league has ever seen. If he makes those pull-ups behind a screen, there’s not much you can do but high-five him and tell him, ‘Good game.’ I’d take him.”
Elsewhere:
•Portland Trail Blazers 98, LA Clippers 84: Al-Farouq Aminu had a career-high 30 points with 10 rebounds, CJ McCollum netted 19 and the Trail Blazers beat the visiting Clippers to square their Western Conference opening-round series at 2-2. Not only did the Clippers lose a game, the third-seeds head home for pivotal game 5 with both their leaders injured. Chris Paul is likely out for the remainder of the series after the All-Star point guard broke a bone in his right hand midway through the third quarter defending a Gerald Henderson drive to the basket. Blake Griffin’s status is also unclear after the former All-Star forward re-aggravated a left quad tendon and sat out the last 5:48 of the game.  Both were scheduled to be evaluated on Tuesday.
“It doesn’t look good for Chris and it doesn’t look great for Blake either,” Clippers coach Doc Rivers said. “It’s 50-50 on Blake for the next game.”
•Charlotte Hornets 89, Miami Heat 85: Kemba Walker poured in a play-off career-high 34 points, Jeremy Lin added 21 and the Hornets beat the visiting Heat to level their Eastern Conference first-round series at 2-2. Pivotal Game 5 is Wednesday night in Miami. Joe Johnson led fifth-seeded Miami with 16 points, while Luol Deng had 15.

RESULTS
PLAYOFF RESULTS
(Series best-of-seven):
Eastern Conference
At Charlotte
Charlotte 89 Miami 85
(Series tied 2-2)
Western Conference
At Oklahoma City
Oklahoma City 118 Dallas 104 (Oklahoma City wins series 4-1)
At Portland
Portland 98 Los Angeles Clippers 84
(Series tied 2-2)