Shai, Thunder roll past Clippers

LOS ANGELES (AFP) — Shai Gilgeous-Alexander scored 26 points to power National Basketball Association (NBA) Western Conference leaders Oklahoma City to a tense 103-101 victory over the Los Angeles Clippers on Sunday while Denver ended Houston’s nine-game winning streak.

Gilgeous-Alexander endured a tough shooting night but connected on all 11 of his free throws, including two in the final second that sealed the victory.

After letting an early 12-point lead get away, the Clippers rallied from a nine-point third-quarter deficit, taking a three-point lead on back-to-back baskets by Kawhi Leonard with 4:47 remaining.

But Alex Caruso drilled a three-pointer with 1:54 left to put Oklahoma City up 100-99 and the Thunder, already assured of the top seed in the West, escaped with the win.

Leonard finished with 25 points and 10 rebounds for the Clippers and James Harden added 17 points in the defeat that set back the Clippers’ bid to pull themselves out of the play-in tournament.

In other Western Conference action, the Nuggets moved within one game of the Rockets for third place with a 116-111 victory in Houston.