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Brooklyn Nets clinch NBA playoff spot

The Brooklyn Nets have beaten the Houston Rockets in the NBA for the first time since 2006, gaining them a spot in the playoffs.

The Brooklyn Nets have clinched a playoff berth by beating the Houston Rockets for the first time in eight years as Joe Johnson scored 32 points in a 105-96 victory.

Shaun Livingston added 17 points for the Nets, who extended their home winning streak to 14 games, longest in their NBA history and tops in the league this season.

The Nets ended a 14-game losing streak against Houston with their first victory since March 13, 2006. The Nets hadn't defeated the Rockets at home since March 31, 2003.

James Harden scored 26 points for Houston.

Golden State's Stephen Curry made a tiebreaking jump shot in the final second of overtime to help lift the Warriors to a 122-120 win over the Dallas Mavericks.

Curry finished with 23 points and 10 rebounds. Klay Thompson led Golden State with 27 points, and Jermaine O'Neal added 20.

Dirk Nowitzki led Dallas with 33 points and 11 rebounds. He had 16 in the Mavericks' 41-point second quarter.

Dallas dropped from seventh in the Western Conference to ninth, a half-game behind Memphis and Phoenix in the final two playoff positions.

At Los Angeles, Damian Lillard scored 34 points and LaMarcus Aldridge had 31 points and 15 rebounds as the Portland Trail Blazers overpowered the Lakers 124-112.

The Blazers' fourth straight victory, coupled with Houston's loss at Brooklyn, moved Portland within 1{ games of the Rockets for fourth place in the Western Conference and home-court advantage in the opening round of the playoffs. The Rockets have three games in hand.

Nick Young, the fifth and last player off the Los Angeles bench, made his first eight shots and finished 15 for 26 with a season-high 40 points.


2 min read

Published

Updated

Source: AAP


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