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Warriors close in on playoff spot
2007-04-18
Mickael Pietrus scored 22 points and Matt Barnes 19 as the Golden State Warriors moved a step closer to their first playoff spot in 13 years with a 111-82 win over Dallas on Tuesday. The victory, secured as the Mavericks rested its key players for the playoffs, kept the Warriors a game ahead of the Los Angeles Clippers - winners in Phoenix on Tuesday - with one game left. A win by Golden State, which has won eight of its last nine games, at Portland on Wednesday would send the Warriors to their first postseason since 1994. But a Golden State loss and a Los Angeles win, against New Orleans/Oklahoma City, would give the Clippers the final Western Conference playoff berth. The teams split their four-game season series, but the Clippers would win the tie-breaker because of divisional record. The Warriors, 3-0 against a powerful Dallas this season, also have a chance to finish seventh and could face the Mavericks in the playoffs. The Mavericks, who plan to use Wednesday night's regular season finale at Seattle as a final tuneup for the playoffs, were without starters Dirk Nowitzki, Josh Howard, Jerry Stackhouse and Erick Dampier. *At Phoenix, Elton Brand scored 21 points to lead six Clippers in double figures as Los Angeles remained alive with its 103-99 win. *Larry Hughes scored 22 points and LeBron James added 18 to lift Cleveland to a 98-92 victory over Philadelphia and keep the Cavaliers alive in their bid to land the No. 2 Eastern Conference seed for the playoffs. The Cavs will get that spot with a win over Milwaukee and a Chicago loss to New Jersey on Wednesday.
Nowitzki returns to propel Mavericks to key Warriors win (2008-04-03)Yao helps Rockets soar over Spurs (2007-11-07)Warriors close in on playoff spot (2007-04-18)Bryant's 50-point streak hits 4 games (2007-03-24)Nash has triumphant return; A.I. fizzles (2007-02-21)
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