(The Sports Xchange) ——Goran Dragic scored 26 points and P.J. Tucker had 11 of his career-high 21 in the fourth quarter as the Phoenix Suns outscored Oklahoma City 11-3 over the final 2:20 and scored a huge win over the Thunder.
Phoenix’s 122-115 points win overshadowed the performance of Kevin Durant who scored 38 points and set a modern-day NBA record with his 41st consecutive game scoring 25 points or more, one more than Michael Jordan had during the 1991-92 season.
Russell Westbrook added 33 for the Thunder (55-21), who fell 4 1/2 games behind West-leading San Antonio.
Gerald Green added 24 points and was 5-for-7 from 3-point range for the Suns (46-31), who moved past the Memphis Grizzlies and into sole possession of the eighth and final playoff spot in the Western Conference.
– –
Spurs 112, Grizzlies 92
San Antonio guard Tony Parker converted all four of his shots in the first quarter before leaving with back spasm, as the Spurs cruised to another victory.
Kawhi Leonard and Manu Ginobili scored 26 points apiece and the NBA-best Spurs (60-17) opened up a 4 1/2-game lead atop the Western Conference.
James Johnson led Memphis with a season-high 20 points but it was a damaging loss for the Grizzlies (45-32) who trail the final Western Conference playoff spot by one game.
– –
Trail Blazers
100, Pelicans 94
LaMarcus Aldridge collected 25 points and 18 rebounds and Portland outscored New Orleans 29-14 in the third quarter to win and clinch a spot in the playoffs.
The Blazers (50-28), fifth in the Western Conference, will make the post-season for the first time since 2011.
Wesley Matthews added 21 to help Portland win for the fifth time in six games.
Anthony Morrow came off the bench for 17 points for the Pelicans (32-45), now losers of five consecutive games.
– –
Rockets 130, Nuggets 125 (Overtime)
James Harden nailed a game-tying 3-pointer with 7.1 seconds left in regulation, and the Houston Rockets erased a 14-point, fourth-quarter deficit, then beat the Denver Nuggets in overtime.
Harden, who led the Rockets on a 19-5 rally over the final 4:24 of regulation, finished with 32 points and 10 assists. He assisted on two 3-pointers by forward Chandler Parsons in overtime that gave the Rockets (51-25) an insurmountable eight-point lead.
