OAKLAND — Baron Davis had 25 points and nine assists, Stephen Jackson added 28 points and the Golden State Warriors kept their waning playoff hopes realistic with a 122-116 victory over the Los Angeles Clippers on Saturday night.
Monta Ellis and Andris Biedrins scored 17 points apiece for the Warriors, whose victory coupled with the Nuggets' 124-97 loss at Utah earlier in the night left Golden State and Denver tied for eighth place in the Western Conference standings at 48-32.
The Nuggets have the tiebreaker edge for the final playoff spot after winning their regular-season series against the Warriors with a decisive victory at Golden State two days earlier, so Denver must lose at least once more for the Warriors to have a shot at the postseason.
The Warriors, who travel to Phoenix on Monday night, will know whether they have a decent chance for their second straight playoff berth after Denver hosts the playoff-bound Rockets on Sunday night. The Nuggets have games remaining against Houston and lowly Memphis, while the Golden State finishes against the Suns and Seattle.
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- Golden State Warriors
- Los Angeles Clippers
- Andris Biedrins
- Elton Brand
- Baron Davis
- Monta Ellis
- Stephen Jackson
- Corey Maggette
- Cuttino Mobley
- Quinton Ross
- Al Thornton
Cuttino Mobley had 30 points and 10 rebounds as the Clippers lost their fifth straight game, including four in a row against playoff contenders. Last-place Los Angeles, which has lost 24 of 28 overall, finishes its worst campaign since 1999-00 with road games against New Orleans and Houston.
Al Thornton had 25 points and 11 rebounds, while Elton Brand added 21 points and 14 rebounds as the Clippers lost the season series with Golden State despite several late surges. Corey Maggette scored 22 points after missing the last two games with a strained hamstring.
The Warriors are assured of their best record since 1994, yet it still might not be enough for a playoff spot in this unusual year in the power-packed West. Golden State already has more victories than any team that has missed the playoffs since the league went to its current postseason format.
The knowledgeable Oakland crowd erupted in cheers and a chant of "Let's go, Warriors!" when the final score of the Nuggets' loss flashed on the scoreboard in the second quarter.
The frantic pace of this contest proved the Warriors clearly won't change their breakneck style or their frequent defensive indifference, even with so much riding on their final games.
The Clippers have the NBA's second-worst shooting percentage on 3-pointers, yet the teams combined for 13 3-pointers in the first 151/2 minutes, including four by Mobley. Golden State scored 42 points in the first quarter and opened up a 20-point lead, only to watch it dip to four points midway through the second.
Although Golden State never trailed, the Clippers trimmed their lead to 93-92 with 14 consecutive points — eight by Mobley — spanning the third and fourth quarters. The Warriors replied with a 10-2 run, and after the Clippers crawled back within five points with 1:46 to play, Ellis and Jackson hit back-to-back layups to seal it.
Notes: Golden State got its first victory of the season Nov. 17 against the Clippers in Oakland, snapping the Warriors' 0-6 skid without Jackson to start the season. Golden State went 40-17 from that point until mid-March ... Clippers G Quinton Ross was in uniform, but didn't play. He injured his left leg in Thursday's loss to the Lakers. ... Golden State won the season series with three victories in four meetings with the Clippers. ... The Warriors had their 31st sellout of the season, a standing-room-only crowd of 19,706.
