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NBA roundup: Los Angeles Clippers, Houston Rockets clinch playoff spots

Sports Mole rounds up all the action from Friday's games in the NBA.

The Los Angeles Clippers secured a place in the playoffs with an emphatic win over the Philadelphia 76ers.

The visitors opened up a 15-point lead by the end of the first quarter, while Chris Paul and DeAndre Jordan combined for 43 to keep the Clippers well in front throughout.

The Houston Rockets booked their spot in the playoffs as a strong start set up a win over the Minnesota Timberwolves.

James Harden scored 33 in his second game since returning from injury, helping the team to a 10-point lead at half time, which was enough to keep them ahead throughout the second half.

The Golden State Warriors made it eight wins in a row as they matched their highest number of wins in a single season by beating the Memphis Grizzlies.

The Western Conference leaders surged ahead early on, with Stephen Curry scoring 38 to give the Warriors their 59th win of the campaign.

The Atlanta Hawks ensured that they will head into the playoffs as the top seed in the Eastern Conference after beating the Miami Heat.

The home side never trailed as DeMarre Carroll added 24 points, giving the Hawks home-court advantage throughout the post-season.

The San Antonio Spurs made amends for their defeat to the Dallas Mavericks earlier this week by thrashing their Texas rivals in their second meeting in four days.

The NBA champions let their early lead slip after the break, but Boris Diaw re-established the gap in the fourth quarter to secure the win.

The Portland Trail Blazers needed a dominant fourth quarter to claim a win over the Phoenix Suns.

LaMarcus Aldridge scored 10 of his 27 points in the final four minutes to put Portland in front, keeping them top in the Northwest Division.

The Brooklyn Nets stunned the Cleveland Cavaliers to boost their chances of making the playoffs.

Joe Johnson and Brook Lopez each scored 20 to set up the Nets' sixth win in eight games, putting in a strong fourth-quarter performance to leave Brooklyn just behind the eighth-placed Celtics.

The Boston Celtics ensured that they remain in the final Eastern Conference playoff spot for now though as they edged to a win over the New York Knicks.

Boston had five players in double figures as they opened up a lead, which allowed them to hold off a late fightback from the Knicks.

The Washington Wizards needed double overtime to secure a narrow win over the Charlotte Hornets.

John Wall tied the scores late in regulation before adding seven of his 32 points in the second overtime period to hand the hosts the win.

The Toronto Raptors ensured that they will finish the season as Atlantic Division champions as they eased to a win over the Los Angeles Lakers.

Lou Williams and Jonas Valanciunas ensured that the Raptors continued to run the score up throughout the second half, giving them their third division title in their 20-season history.

The New Orleans Pelicans kept their hopes of making it into the playoffs alive with a comfortable win over the Sacramento Kings.

Tyreke Evans scored 25 as the Pelicans ended their four-game losing streak, leaving them three wins off the top eight in the Western Conference.

The Denver Nuggets thrashed the Utah Jazz, leaving their opponents on a four-game losing streak.

Ty Lawson and Jameer Nelson combined for 37 points as the Nuggets cruised ahead before half time, leaving the Jazz with too much to do after the break.

The Detroit Pistons pulled away in the second half to set up a win over the Orlando Magic, leaving their opponents with nine defeats in their last 10.

Reggie Jackson led the way for the visitors with 26, including 17 in the first quarter, handing the Pistons their fourth win in a row.

Results in full: Detroit Pistons 111-97 Orlando Magic, Los Angeles Clippers 119-98 Philadelphia 76ers, Charlotte Hornets 107-110 Washington Wizards, Miami Heat 86-99 Atlanta Hawks, Cleveland Cavaliers 98-106 Brooklyn Nets, Boston Celtics 96-92 New York Knicks, Los Angeles Lakers 83-94 Toronto Raptors, Minnesota Timberwolves 110-120 Houston Rockets, Golden State Warriors 107-84 Memphis Grizzlies, Sacramento Kings 88-102 New Orleans Pelicans, Dallas Mavericks 76-94 San Antonio Spurs, Utah Jazz 91-107 Denver Nuggets, Portland Trail Blazers 87-81 Phoenix Suns

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Tiago Splitter, Boris Diaw, Tony Parker, Kawhi Leonard and Danny Green of the San Antonio Spurs celebrate a basket on January 19, 2013
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