James Harden bags 39 as LA Clippers edge Golden State Warriors in OT to clinch NBA play-off spot
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LA Clippers guard James Harden controls the ball against Golden State Warriors guard Brandin Podziemski during the fourth quarter at Chase Centre.
PHOTO: REUTERS
LOS ANGELES – James Harden believes that composure from his Los Angeles Clippers team was key as they closed out victory in front of the Golden State Warriors’ vociferous home support on April 13.
The guard scored 39 points, as the Clippers won 124-119 in overtime to clinch the final play-off spot on a thrilling last day of the National Basketball Association’s (NBA) regular season.
Harden’s superb display in San Francisco helped the Clippers bag the fifth seed in the Western Conference and sets up a first-round post-season series with the fourth-seeded Denver Nuggets.
The defeat for Golden State means the Warriors must now secure their place in the play-offs via the four-team play-in tournament starting this week, hosting Memphis on April 15.
“We knew it was gonna be a hostile environment, and the main goal was just to win the game,” Harden told ESPN. “Whether it’s scoring, whether it’s playmaking... it’s whatever it takes at this point.”
The win was the Clippers’ eighth straight victory to close out the regular season, ensuring they will enter the play-offs as the form team in the West after a campaign where few gave them much hope.
“We know we’re a good team and we’re excited to show the world that we’re a good team,” Harden added.
The 35-year-old was backed by 33 points from Kawhi Leonard while Ivica Zubac added 22.
Stephen Curry led Golden State’s scoring with 36 points while Jimmy Butler contributed 30 points.
Warriors coach Steve Kerr praised the Clippers’ performance after a gripping contest.
“That was a big-time basketball game – they’re one of the best teams in the NBA, and so are we,” he said. “It was a great, great game – high-level stuff, stars being stars. We came up short but not for lack of effort.”
Elsewhere, Denver clinched the fourth seed in the West with a 126-111 victory over the second-seeded Houston Rockets. The win capped a tumultuous week for the Nuggets, who fired coach Michael Malone last week with the play-offs beckoning in a move that stunned the NBA.
Denver’s interim coach David Adelman reserved praise for Serbian star Nikola Jokic, who had 18 points, seven rebounds and seven assists to finish a regular-season campaign in which he averaged a triple-double.
“I’ve been around special players, I’ve never seen any player like him,” Adelman said.
“The work he puts in away from it. Just how systematic he is, professional, no wasted steps. He is absolutely the most impressive basketball player I’ve ever seen.”
The Minnesota Timberwolves, meanwhile, snaffled sixth place in the West – the final automatic play-off berth – with a 116-105 defeat of the Utah Jazz. AFP
