1 GAME SHY OF PLAYOFFS
Oklahoma City Thunder banked on a strong last quarter to beat Houston Rockets, put them in good position for playoffs In loaded West Conference, OKC is in a three-way deadlock at fifth and only needs a win in Miami to secure a slot in the playoffs
The Oklahoma City Thunder adopted a simple mantra for Saturday’s game against the Houston Rockets with their playoff fate still up in the air.
“We just better not lose,” Paul George said.
For one night at least, it worked.
George and Russell Westbrook each scored 24 points, and Oklahoma City snapped Houston’s 20-game home winning streak with a 108-102 victory.
The Thunder were down one with about seven minutes left before scoring the next 11 points.
Oklahoma City (46-34) is tied with San Antonio and New Orleans for fifth in the loaded Western Conference, a half-game behind idle Utah. The Thunder can clinch a playoff spot with a victory at Miami on Monday.
The Thunder took two of three in the season series against the NBA-best Rockets.
James Harden had 26 points for Houston, and Chris Paul added 17.
“I thought we tasted the playoff atmosphere because these guys are fighting for their lives and we’re not,” Houston coach Mike D’Antoni said. “It’s human nature, there’s no reward in winning.”
Russell Westbrook and Paul George each scored 24 points, and the Oklahoma City Thunder used a timely fourth-quarter run to pull away for a 108-102 win over the Houston Rockets on Saturday night.
The Thunder were down one with about seven minutes left before scoring the next 11 points.
Oklahoma City is vying with several teams for the final playoff spots in the loaded Western Conference. The victory gives the Thunder a 2-1 win in the season series and snaps the Rockets’ 20game home winning streak.
James Harden had 26 points for Houston, and Chris Paul added 17.
NUGGETS 134, CLIPPERS 115 In Los Angeles, Will Barton scored 31 points, Nikola Jokic had 23 points, 11 rebounds and 11 assists, and Denver earned its fifth consecutive victory.
Denver (45-35) pulled into a tie with Minnesota for eighth in the Western Conference with two games to play. The Nuggets visit the Timberwolves for their season finale on Wednesday night.
Lou Williams scored 24 points for the Clippers (42-38), who were eliminated from playoff contention. DeAndre Jordan had 16 points and 17 rebounds.
PELICANS 126, WARRIORS 120 In Oakland, Anthony Davis had 34 points, 12 rebounds and four blocked shots, and New Orleans snapped a 10-game losing streak to Golden State. /
This game was important but the Monday game is just as important as this game because if we don’t take care of business Monday then this game doesn’t really mean anything.
CARMELO ATHONY OKC