It's safe to say a highly-anticipated contest between the Los Angeles Clippers and Golden State Warriors on the final day of the NBA's regular season lived up to the hype. With a top-six seed or a trip to the play-in tournament on the line, the Warriors and Clippers showed out. In a contest that featured 23 lead changes, 48 minutes wasn't enough for the Clippers and Warriors.
Despite the Clippers holding a seven-point lead in the fourth quarter, a late barrage from Steph Curry tightened the game down the final stretch of the fourth quarter. Curry buried back-to-back 3-pointers to give the Warriors a four-point advantage with under two minutes remaining. Yet, a pair of ugly turnovers allowed the Clippers to tie the game.
With the game tied on the final possession of the game, Defensive Player of the Year candidate Draymond Green defending Kawhi Leonard on a shot that clanked off the rim, sending the contest into overtime.
In overtime, the Warriors had no answer for James Harden. Harden scored 12 of the Clippers' 13 points in overtime to send the Warriors to the play-in tournament and lock up the No. 5 seed in the West for Los Angeles.
Harden scored a game-high 39 points on 13-of-23 shooting from the field with five made 3-pointers. Leonard added 33 points, while Ivica Zubac dominated down low for the Clippers with 22 points and 17 rebounds.
Steph Curry tallied 36 points on 10-of-20 shooting from the floor with seven made 3-pointers. Jimmy Butler fueled Golden State early with 30 points and nine assists. However, 66 points from Curry and Butler combined wasn't enough to propel Golden State to the No. 6 seed in the West.
Instead, the Warriors will host the Memphis Grizzlies on Tuesday in the play-in tournament. If the Warriors can seal a victory on Tuesday, they will lock up the No. 7 seed in the West and meet the Houston Rockets in round one of the postseason. A loss would push the Warriors to a win or go-home game on Sunday for final spot in the Western Conference.
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This article originally appeared on Warriors Wire: Warriors drop to play-in tournament after OT loss vs. Clippers
