OKC win, Nets slip up in race for NBA playoffs spots

Oklahoma City have scored a crucial road win over a Western Conference rival as the race for the NBA post-season enters the home stretch.

The Thunder, led by Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, Jalen Williams and Australian Josh Giddey, held on for a thrilling 101-100 victory against the Clippers in Los Angeles on Tuesday night.

Gilgeous-Alexander had a game-high 31 points, including OKC's final 10.

Fellow guard Giddey tallied 13 points, six rebounds and six assists to steer the Thunder up to seventh in the standings with a 36-36 record.

Williams added 20 points and eight boards as Oklahoma City beat the Clippers (38-35) for the third time in as many matches this season.

Kawhi Leonard top-scored for LA with 21 points but dribbled down the final seconds after being hounded by defenders and failed to fire his potential game-winning shot.

"I'll take ownership of it," Leonard said.

"Definitely should have gotten a shot off."

Paul George contributed 18 points, including a highlight 360-degree dunk in the third quarter, but got hurt in the fourth when the game was tied 91-all and didn't return.

Brooklyn's grip on the final Eastern Conference playoffs spot is slipping after they suffered a fourth straight defeat.

The Nets, who are still without Australian Ben Simmons due to foot and lower back issues, dropped to 39-32 to sit in sixth and one game clear of the Miami Heat after their 115-109 loss at home to Cleveland.

Compatriot Patty Mills failed to get off the bench for the ninth time in the last 10 games.

The Cavaliers' Donovan Mitchell, meantime, had five buckets from outside the arc and one sensational slam dunk among his game-high 31 points in the opener of a two-game series.

"It's up there," Mitchell said of his jam.

"I don't know if it's my best one, but it's definitely up there."

The Cavs (45-28) are solidly in fourth place in the East after a seventh win in nine games, nearing their first playoff berth since 2018 in LeBron James' final season in Cleveland.

Xavier Cooks' hopes of featuring in the NBA post-season has taken a hit with his Washington side losing 122-112 in Orlando.

The two-time NBL champion and 2023 league MVP didn't see any game time for the second match in three since arriving in the US.

Kristaps Porzingis scored a game-high 30 points for the Wizards. Their record sits at 32-40 after a sixth loss in seven, good enough for 12th in the East but two-and-a-half games behind the Chicago Bulls in the final Play-In position.

Good news though for Aussie Dyson Daniels whose New Orleans Pelicans routed the San Antonio Spurs 119-84.

Daniels had two points, three rebounds, three assists and one steal for the Pels (35-27), who are now a half-game behind the Utah Jazz in the final Play-In spot in the West.

In Sacramento, Jayson Tatum scored 36 points and Boston beat the Kings 132-109.

Jaylen Brown added 27 points and Derrick White scored 20 to help the Celtics (50-23) open up a one-game lead over the Philadelphia 76ers in the Atlantic Division.

Domantas Sabonis had 16 points, 13 rebounds and 12 assists for Sacramento (43-29) who fell one-and-a-half games behind the Memphis Grizzlies in the race for second in the West.

Atlanta are eighth in the East after their 129-100 home triumph over the Detroit Pistons. Trae Young led the way for the Hawks (35-36) with a 30-point, 12-assists double-double.

With AP.