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Clippers Fall To 5th Spot As They Lose To Knicks In Season Finale

Standings

NEW YORK (CBS/AP) -- JR Smith scored 21 points, including a rally-stopping jumper with 31 seconds left, and the New York Knicks held on to beat the Los Angeles Clippers 99-93 on Wednesday night and close in on the No. 7 seed in the Eastern Conference.

Carmelo Anthony scored 17 points for the Knicks, but he was on the bench in the final minutes as the Knicks blew nearly all of an 18-point lead against a Clippers team that was fighting desperately for home-court advantage in the first round.

The Knicks will draw Miami in the first round with one more win or a loss by Philadelphia. New York closes its season Thursday at Charlotte, which has one of the worst records in NBA history, while the 76ers visit Detroit.

The Memphis Grizzlies can now control their own destiny by winning Thursday night against the Orland Magic for home-court in the first round of the playoffs against the Clippers.

If Memphis loses, the Clippers hold the tie breaker and will be awarded the 4th spot.

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