Clippers no match for the Warriors

OAKLAND -- Baron Davis had 25 points and nine assists, Stephen Jackson added 28 points and the Golden State Warriors kept their waning playoff hopes realistic with a 122-116 victory over the Clippers on Saturday night.

Monta Ellis and Andris Biedrins scored 17 points apiece for the Warriors, whose victory coupled with the Nuggets’ 124-97 loss at Utah earlier in the night left Golden State and Denver tied for eighth place in the Western Conference standings at 48-32.

The Nuggets have the tiebreaker edge for the final playoff spot after winning their regular-season series against the Warriors with a decisive victory at Golden State two days earlier, so Denver must lose at least once more for the Warriors to have a shot at the postseason.

The Warriors, who travel to Phoenix on Monday night, will know whether they have a decent chance for their second consecutive playoff berth after Denver plays hosts to the playoff-bound Houston Rockets tonight. The Nuggets have games remaining against Houston and Memphis, while Golden State finishes against the Suns and Seattle.

Cuttino Mobley had 30 points and 10 rebounds as the Clippers lost their fifth in a row, four of those losses coming against playoff contenders. The last-place Clippers, who have lost 24 of 28 overall, finish their worst campaign since 1999-00 with road games against New Orleans and Houston.

Al Thornton had 25 points and 11 rebounds, and Elton Brand had 21 points and 14 rebounds for the Clippers.