Home » Sports » Ice Hockey
Clippers clinch rare berth in playoffs
Source: Agencies |
April 18, 2012, Wednesday
|
Print Edition
Print Edition
THE streaking Los Angeles Clippers knocked Oklahoma City out of first place in the Western Conference with a forceful 92-77 victory on Monday that clinched the hosts a first playoff berth in six years.
Nick Young led a balanced attack with 19 points off the bench, Blake Griffin added 17 and 11 rebounds and the Clippers overwhelmed the visiting Thunder in the second half to reach the post-season for the first time since the 2005-06 campaign.
"It feels great, especially to do it against one of the top teams in the league," Young said. "I was too excited (after the game). I ran to the back and was slapping hands with everyone."
Winners in 12 of their last 14 games, the Clippers (38-23) also have a shot at their first ever division title, trailing the Los Angeles Lakers by a game in the Pacific Division, and for third in the West.
The Thunder (44-17), meanwhile, slipped percentage points behind San Antonio in their see-saw tussle for the top seed in the conference.
In other games, it was: Jazz 123, Mavericks 121 (triple OT); Heat 101, Nets 98; Hornets 75, Bobcats 67; Wizards 87, Bulls 84, Nuggets 105, Rockets 102; and Hawks 109, Raptors 87.
Elsewhere, it was: Pacers 111, Timberwolves 88; Magic 113, 76ers 100; Suns 125, Trail Blazers 107; and Spurs 120, Warriors 99;
In Salt Lake City, Al Jefferson scored 28 points and equaled a career-high with 26 rebounds as the Utah Jazz defeated Dallas 123-121 Monday in triple-overtime.
In Newark, New Jersey, LeBron James scored Miami's final 17 points in a furious one-man rally, finishing with 37 to lead the Heat past the Nets.
Nick Young led a balanced attack with 19 points off the bench, Blake Griffin added 17 and 11 rebounds and the Clippers overwhelmed the visiting Thunder in the second half to reach the post-season for the first time since the 2005-06 campaign.
"It feels great, especially to do it against one of the top teams in the league," Young said. "I was too excited (after the game). I ran to the back and was slapping hands with everyone."
Winners in 12 of their last 14 games, the Clippers (38-23) also have a shot at their first ever division title, trailing the Los Angeles Lakers by a game in the Pacific Division, and for third in the West.
The Thunder (44-17), meanwhile, slipped percentage points behind San Antonio in their see-saw tussle for the top seed in the conference.
In other games, it was: Jazz 123, Mavericks 121 (triple OT); Heat 101, Nets 98; Hornets 75, Bobcats 67; Wizards 87, Bulls 84, Nuggets 105, Rockets 102; and Hawks 109, Raptors 87.
Elsewhere, it was: Pacers 111, Timberwolves 88; Magic 113, 76ers 100; Suns 125, Trail Blazers 107; and Spurs 120, Warriors 99;
In Salt Lake City, Al Jefferson scored 28 points and equaled a career-high with 26 rebounds as the Utah Jazz defeated Dallas 123-121 Monday in triple-overtime.
In Newark, New Jersey, LeBron James scored Miami's final 17 points in a furious one-man rally, finishing with 37 to lead the Heat past the Nets.
- About Us
- |
- Terms of Use
- |
-
RSS - |
- Privacy Policy
- |
- Contact Us
- |
- Shanghai Call Center: 962288
- |
- Tip-off hotline: 52920043
- 沪ICP证：沪ICP备05050403号-1
- |
- 互联网新闻信息服务许可证：31120180004
- |
- 网络视听许可证：0909346
- |
- 广播电视节目制作许可证：沪字第354号
- |
- 增值电信业务经营许可证：沪B2-20120012
Copyright © 1999- Shanghai Daily. All rights reserved.Preferably viewed with Internet Explorer 8 or newer browsers.
