Thunder get time to rest after 1st-round sweep

It didn't take long for the Thunder to finish off that challenge.

Oklahoma City handed the Mavs the first four-game sweep in franchise history, blowing through two games in Dallas to return the favor for last year's postseason heartache — winning one in a blowout and one with a fourth-quarter comeback.

"It was a tough, tough series for us last year. Obviously we didn't get the outcome we wanted," All-Star point guard Russell Westbrook said. "It taught us a lesson.

"We needed to come back this year with a lot more toughness, and I think we did that this series, and this season, and hopefully we'll continue to do that."

First, the Thunder took a hard-earned day off Sunday while waiting to find out whom they'll face in the Western Conference semifinals. Kevin Durant and Co. won't know until at least Tuesday night, and possibly not until Saturday, whether it will be the Los Angeles Lakers or the Denver Nuggets.

The Lakers took a 3-1 series lead by winning 92-88 in Denver on Sunday night.

The Thunder won the season series against both potential opponents 2-1, losing to both in the final week of the regular season with top reserve James Harden out for the last part of the Lakers game and all of the Nuggets game after getting elbowed by L.A.'s Metta World Peace.

The sweep could give Oklahoma City its longest break of this lockout-shortened season. The only time the Thunder had more than three straight days off was a five-game layoff over the All-Star break.

The rest will be welcomed by center Kendrick Perkins, who left the clinching Game 4 victory Saturday night with a strained right hip.