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Warriors clinch NBA playoff spot with 6 1/2 weeks to spare

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Oklahoma City Thunder forward Kevin Durant (35) drives against Golden State Warriors forward Harrison Barnes (40) during the first quarter of an NBA basketball game in Oklahoma City, Saturday, Feb. 27, 2016. (AP Photo/Sue Ogrocki)

OKLAHOMA CITY – Stephen Curry and the Golden State Warriors clinched a playoff spot with more than six weeks to spare.

The defending NBA champions wrapped up a berth when the Houston Rockets lost Saturday night to the San Antonio Spurs. That assured the Warriors will finish among the top eight teams in the Western Conference.

A spokesman for the Warriors said they are the first team since the 1987-88 Los Angeles Lakers to secure a trip to the post-season before the end of February. The Boston Celtics clinched a playoff spot by Feb. 24 in 1985, and by Feb. 26 the following year, according to STATS.

About an hour after the Rockets lost, Golden State improved to 53-5 — the best start in league history — when Curry hit a 3-pointer from well beyond 30 feet with 0.6 seconds remaining in overtime to give the Warriors a thrilling 121-118 win over the Oklahoma City Thunder.

Curry had 46 points and his winning shot was his 12th 3-pointer, tying the NBA single-game record. The reigning MVP also broke his own record for 3s in a season, leaving the new mark at 288.

Golden State has 24 regular-season games remaining.

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