Warriors end playoff drought

PORTLAND, ORE. — Reaching the playoffs for the first time since 1994, the Golden State Warriors beat the Portland Trail Blazers, 120-98, Wednesday night to earn the eighth and final Western Conference postseason berth.

Baron Davis had 12 points, 10 rebounds and 14 assists and the Warriors made sure the Clippers’ game against the New Orleans Hornets didn’t matter.

It was decided early, with the Warriors going ahead, 64-46, at halftime and leading by as many as 28 points.

Stephen Jackson had 31 points for Golden State, which came in one game ahead of the Clippers. When Jackson left the game with just more than two minutes left, he and his teammates gathered in a group embrace.

After the game, the Warriors lingered on the court with Coach Don Nelson, hopping and dancing. Golden State’s 12-season playoff drought was the longest current stretch in the league.

The Warriors were coming off a 111-82 victory Tuesday over the Dallas Mavericks, their first-round playoff opponent, who rested many of their players.

Golden State won nine of 10 down the stretch to reach the playoffs. The Warriors (42-40) had finished with losing records the previous 13 seasons. Nelson, in his second stint with the Warriors, was also the team’s coach the last time they went to the playoffs.

Travis Outlaw had a career-high 36 points for Portland (32-50), which missed the playoffs for the fourth straight season.