[Blitzer:] Despite all the drama off the court over their owner's racist remarks, the L.A. Clippers have now advanced to tonight's Western Conference semifinals. They'll face off with the Oklahoma City Thunder. The team owner Donald Sterling has been banned for life facing a $2.5 million fine. But not his wife who is also a co-owner. CNN's Ted Rowlands is joining us from Los Angeles. Ted, seems like everyone's talking about this now. Sterling spoke to "Dujour" magazine about his alleged mistress who talked with Barbara Walters herself. Sterling's wife has been talking with the NBA commissioner. Update us on the latest developments.
[Ted Rowlands, Cnn Correspondent:] Well, the bottom line, Wolf, is this season is the best ever in franchise history for the L.A. Clippers and as the team is doing well on the court, off the court, of course, there is drama, and the more talk we hear, the more a lot of people believe that both Mr. And Mrs. Sterling want to keep the Clippers.
[Rowlands:] With a win this weekend the Los Angeles Clippers are moving on to the next round of the NBA Playoffs. Meanwhile off the court the drama surrounding team owner Donald Sterling continues to grow. In an interview with ABC's Barbara Walters V. Stiviano, the woman heard with Sterling on the now infamous recordings, defended the Clippers owner and claimed she is still close with him.
[Barbara Walters, Abc News:] Is Donald Sterling a racist?
[V. Stiviano, Donald Sterling's Alleged Mistress:] No. I don't believe it in my heart.
[Walters:] What is his state of mind right now?
[Stiviano:] Confused. I think he feels very alone.
[Rowlands:] Meanwhile Sterling's wife Shelly, who was at this weekend's game, says she thinks the NBA's plan to hire an executive to run the team is a great idea, releasing a statement that seemed to indicate she would like to hold on to the Clippers, which is part of a family trust. The statement says, in part, "As a co-owner I am fully committed to taking the necessary steps to make the Clippers the best team in the NBA. That has been my aspiration ever since 1981."
[Ira Boudway, Bloomberg:] She is saying essentially that you can do what you want to my husband. He is a racist. Maybe you can strip him of his control as the board of governor. But this is a piece of family property and you can't just take away our property. We didn't do anything we didn't say anything. This is not us.
[Rowlands:] As for Donald Sterling's next move, it is still unclear if he is willing to sell. Los Angeles Mayor Eric Garcetti on CBS's "Face the Nation" says after speaking to Sterling he doesn't think he will go down without a fight.
[Eric Garcetti, Los Angeles Mayor:] I think he thinks he will be the owner for a long time that he wants to stay the owner. And I say this will be a long, protracted fight and a painful thing for a city that is a great city, a great American city.
[Rowlands:] And, Wolf, the bottom line, a lot of people are getting ready for what could be a long protracted fight. We haven't heard anything specific from Donald Sterling except for what you mentioned in the top where you referenced that "DuJour" magazine. They quoted him only about his reaction to V. Stiviano saying, quote, "I should have paid her off." But we haven't heard anything official from him as to whether or not he's going to fight the effort to sell the team.
[Blitzer:] And we'll get some more on that. I'm going to be speaking later today in "THE SITUATION ROOM" with Jason Binn, the publisher of "DuJour" magazine. He's the one who had that lengthy phone conversation with Donald Sterling. We'll get some more on that. I'll also speak, by the way, with Bruce Levenson. He's one of the co- owners of the Atlanta Hawks, he'll join me live at 5:00 today as well. Lots of happening lots happening on this front. And we'll go in depth, 5:00 p.m. Eastern, in "THE SITUATION ROOM." Meanwhile, the situation in Ukraine is clearly worsening. Fighting between government forces and separatists moving the country closer to the civil war. We'll go live to Ukraine for an update.