News / Sports
NBA Scores: Clippers Keep Playoff Hopes Alive with Victory Over Suns
Elton Brand scored 21 points and grabbed 9 rebounds while Corey Maggette added 13 points and 11 rebounds as the Los Angeles Clippers (40-41) had six players score in double figures to beat the Phoenix Suns (61-21) 103-99 to keep their Western Conference playoff hopes alive.
All hopes of an eight seed for the Clippers rest on Wednesday night as Los Angeles needs to beat the NO/Oklahoma City Hornets and the Golden State Warriors need to fall to the Portland Trailblazers.
Los Angeles was forced to knock off a Phoenix team that was playing with all their weapons. Despite locking up the two seed in the Western Conference playoffs, Phoenix used all their starters in their game against Los Angeles.
The Clippers had built a 69-63 lead late in the third quarter but the Suns closed the period on an 11-2 run to head into the fourth with a 74-71 advantage. After Leandro Barbosa hit a three-pointer with 8:32 left on the clock the Suns had pushed their lead to five and it looked like Los Angeles would wilt but instead went on an 8-0 run to grab a three point lead.
Phoenix pulled to within one several times but the Clippers managed to answer each time with a big bucket and hit key free-throws down the stretch to keep Phoenix at bay. Jason Hart hit four from the foul line in the final 7 seconds to seal the win for the Clippers.
