Caris LeVert had 27 points and 13 assists, and the Brooklyn Nets used the best-shooting quarter in the NBA this season to send them on their way to a 129-120 victory over the Clippers on Sunday night.
Joe Harris added 25 points — 23 in the first half — for the Nets, who clinched seventh place in the Eastern Conference and a first-round playoff matchup with the defending NBA champion Toronto Raptors. Tyler Johnson scored 21 as Brooklyn improved to 4-2 in the restart.
The Nets shot 85.7% (18 of 21) from the field in the first quarter, racing to a 21-point lead. The Clippers battled back to tie it in the third quarter but the Nets broke it open again early in the fourth.
Kawhi Leonard scored 39 points for the Clippers, who rested Paul George and had their lead over Denver for the No. 2 seed in the West trimmed to one game. They play the Nuggets on Wednesday in their next game.
A night after rallying to beat Portland, Los Angeles had no energy at the start. Allen, Harris and LeVert, meanwhile, all were listed as doubtful a day earlier but looked as good as ever Sunday.
Harris knocked down a 3-pointer to open the scoring and the Nets had a double-digit lead 3 1/2 minutes into the game. They pushed it to 45-24 when LeVert scored as time expired to end the first quarter.
Harris was 6 of 6 in the quarter with four 3-pointers for 16 points.
The Clippers bounced back with a 39-point second quarter, cutting it to 74-63 at halftime. Leonard then opened the third with a jumper and three straight 3-pointers to tie it, and Brooklyn’s lead was just four after three.
But Johnson made consecutive 3s to open the fourth and restore a double-digit lead and the Nets stayed safely ahead from there.
