Nuggets regain control of playoff destiny; Clippers eliminated

LOS ANGELES — Will Barton scored 31 points as the Denver Nuggets kept their playoffs hopes alive with a 134-115 victory over the Los Angeles Clippers on Saturday.

Nikola Jokic finished with 23 points, 11 rebounds and 11 assists as the Nuggets won their fifth straight to move into a tie with the Minnesota Timberwolves for eighth place in the Western Conference with two games to play. Both teams are 45-35.

With the offense leading the way some nights and the defense on others, the Nuggets have regained control of their playoff destiny.

They will reach the post-season if they win their last two NBA games. The Nuggets finish the regular season at home against Portland on Monday night.

On Saturday, Denver started quickly on the attack, making 10 of their first 12 shots.

The stage is now set for the Nuggets’ season-ending game against the Timberwolves in Minneapolis on Wednesday. Minnesota, which holds the tiebreaker over the Nuggets, hosts Memphis on Monday.

The loss eliminated the struggling Clippers from the postseason race as they lost for the fourth time in the past five games. The loss ends a string of six straight post-season appearances for the Clippers.

WIN STREAK SNAPPED

Elsewhere, Russell Westbrook and Paul George combined for 48 points as the Oklahoma City Thunder pulled away in the fourth quarter to beat the Houston Rockets, 108-102.

Oklahoma City was behind by one point with seven minutes to go before going on an 11-0 burst.

The host Rockets scored five straight points with less than a minute left to get within five, but George made two free throws to clinch the win and snap Houston’s 20-game home win streak.

The Thunder are battling with a number of teams for the final playoff berths in the Western Conference.

Carmelo Anthony tallied 22 points for the Thunder, including some clutch three pointers.

James Harden had 26 and Chris Paul chipped in 17 points for the Rockets in the loss. —