The last day of the NBA regular season always feels like the playoffs started, with teams battling for the final playoff spots and play-in tournament seeds.
The Clippers and Warriors game was no different.
Both teams entered today’s game with a lot at stake. The position for the 5th seed in the playoffs is for the winner, and the play-in position is for the one that lost today.
The Clippers, who have been the hottest team over the last couple of weeks of the season, put on their best game of the season in Golden State and ultimately won the game in overtime against the Warriors, which helped secure the Clippers’ spot as the 5th seed in the Western Conference.
James Harden had 39 points in the win against the Golden State Warriors in overtime on Sunday to help the Clippers clinch the playoffs.
The Clippers’ 124-119 win against Golden State helped the Clippers put themselves in the playoff position, while the loss for Golden State sent them to the play-in tournament route. Kawhi contributed with 33 points and 7 assists, six rebounds, and 3 steals. Zubac put up 22 points and 17 rebounds. With the win against the Warriors, the Clippers, who are locked in as the fifth seed in the Western Conference, will face the fourth-seeded Denver Nuggets in the playoffs.
The Clippers also exceeded expectations, proving many people wrong heading into the season. With Paul George and Russell Westbrook both leaving the Clippers this past offseason, many thought the Clippers would miss the playoffs. However, Ty Lue helped carry the team to 50 wins and a playoff berth, which many people predicted would be the team’s 12th or even 13th place finish in the Western Conference. Even with Kawhi being sidelined to start the season, the Clippers found ways to stay competitive throughout the season, contributing to the team’s clinching of the playoffs.
The way the Clippers have been playing over the last couple of weeks, with an 8-game winning streak to wrap up the season, sets the tone for the Clippers.
The Clippers have also been on a run, winning a lot since the All-Star break.
With the Clippers in the playoffs, the team is hungry and ready to make a deep run, as they pursue their first championship.
PHOTO: Robert Edwards/Imagn Images
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