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Davis' late heroics lift Warroirs over Sonics

Mar 18, 2007 - 6:06 AM SEATTLE (Ticker) -- Baron Davis and the Golden State Warriors are not ready to release their hold on the last playoff position.

Davis scored 19 points, including the game-winning basket with 2.3 seconds left, as the Warriors rallied for a 99-98 victory over the slumping Seattle SuperSonics.

Golden State (32-36) hold a one-half game lead over the idle Los Angeles Clippers (30-35) for the final postseason spot in the Western Conference standings.

"It was a really important game for us because we do have a chance to make the playoffs and we have to win games to do it," Golden State coach Don Nelson said.

Monta Ellis stole the ball and scored on a fast-break layup and Davis split a pair free throws, tying the game at 97-97 with 26 seconds remaining.

Rashard Lewis had a chance to give Seattle a two-point lead, but the former All-Star connected on 1-of-2 foul shots with seven seconds to go to set up Davis' late game basket.

Following a timeout, Davis drove left and drained the go-ahead pull-up jumper in the foul line.

"I was going to the hole and pulled up and I took a rhythm shot and that's what I wanted to do was take a rhythm shot and just follow through," Davis said.

"(Baron) is only able to play about half of a game, about 24 minutes, so I have to bide his time and make sure he's in there in the fourth quarter," Nelson said.

Seattle had a chance to win it, but Damien Wilkins misfired as the buzzer sounded.

"The last play was Rashard slipping to the front of the rim, Ray (Allen) coming off Nick (Collison) and Nick slipping for a lob," Sonics coach Bob Hill said. "If the guy in the corner drops to help, the guy in the corner is open."

Jason Richardson scored 23 points and Al Harrington chipped in 20 for the Warriors, who shot 45 percent (38-of-83) from the field and survived 21 turnovers.

All-Star Ray Allen netted 25 points and Lewis added 23 for Seattle, which has lost five games in a row after winning three straight from March 1-6.

"I don't have an answer for you. We turned the ball over," Allen said. "It's identical to what's happened to us the last couple of games and it's hard to put a finger on what we need to do to get better."