Paul George scored 23 points in the final quarter to inspire the Los Angeles Clippers to a 120-118 victory over the Cleveland Cavaliers.
American George, 33, was in great form, posting 39 points, 11 rebounds and seven assists, helping his team overturn a 26-point deficit.
James Harden scored 22 points, and Ivica Zubac, Terrence Mann, and Norman Powell each scored 14 points.
“It was a win for the whole team,” George said.
“I couldn't take any credit for any of this without them. Without them, none of this would have happened.”
George capped his performance by sinking the go-ahead shot with seven seconds left and making a key block just before the buzzer to keep the Clippers in the lead.
With this win, the Clippers have a better chance of clinching the fourth seed in the Western Conference.
Elsewhere, the Dallas Mavericks maintained their late-season momentum with a third straight win, defeating the Houston Rockets 147-136 in overtime.
Kyrie Irving led the way with 48 points, Luka Doncic had 37 points, 12 assists, and 9 rebounds, and the Mavericks came back from a 22-point deficit to win.
This loss cost the Rockets a spot in the playoffs at the end of the season.
“There's an understanding that no matter what happens, we're playing for each other,” Mavericks coach Jason Kidd said. “Houston gave us their best shot, and we took it and figured out how to win.” I found it,” he said.
“That's the beauty of our locker room. No one gave in, no one let go of the rope, no one quit.”
The Golden State Warriors defeated the Utah Jazz 118-110 with Klay Thompson scoring 32 points, but the Los Angeles Lakers lost to the Minnesota Timberwolves 127-117 without LeBron James.
The Miami Heat lost 117-115 to the Indiana Pacers, but the Philadelphia 76ers defeated the San Antonio Spurs 133-126 in two overtimes with Tyrese Maxey scoring 52 points. I won 5 games in a row.
The Phoenix Suns lost to the New Orleans Pelicans 113-105, the New York Knicks defeated the Milwaukee Bucks 122-109, and the Boston Celtics defeated the Portland Trail Blazers 124-107.
