LOS ANGELES: The Los Angeles Clippers held off a furious late rally to upset the pace-setting Golden State Warriors 102-99 in the NBA on Monday.

Norman Powell led the Clippers scoring with 23 points including five three-pointers as the Los Angeles club improved to 8-7 for the season after downing the Western Conference leaders.

The Clippers led by 15 points late in the second quarter only to see the Warriors chip away at the lead to narrow the margin to three points at the end of the third quarter.

The Clippers dug deep to hold off Golden State in the fourth quarter, and the Warriors missed a three-point attempt from Gary Payton II on the buzzer that would have tied it to force overtime.

Stephen Curry led the Warriors scorers with 26 points, with Andrew Wiggins adding 22.

Clippers coach Tyronn Lue said he had rallied his team at the end of the third quarter.

“I told them ‘they’re the number one team in the West for a reason’ — but we’re still up by three points, at home,” Lue said.

“But I’m proud of the team. They made a big run like they always do, and we were able to keep our composure and come away with the win.”

Elsewhere on Monday, Damian Lillard returned from a three-game concussion layoff to score a driving layup with 3.9 seconds remaining and give the Milwaukee Bucks a much-needed 101-100 victory over the in-form Houston Rockets.

Houston had gone into the game on the back of a five-game winning streak and looked ready to extend that run after racing into an early 13-point lead in the first quarter.

But Milwaukee, who are four places off the bottom of the Eastern Conference with a 5-9 record after Monday’s win, responded superbly to lead by 12 points at half-time.

Houston regained the initiative in the fourth quarter to grab the lead, but a late run by Milwaukee culminating in Lillard’s winner settled an enthralling battle.

Lillard, who finished with 18 points and 10 assists, admitted that his enforced layoff due to concussion had been a challenge.

“Normally when something is wrong with me I feel like I can will myself through it — but this was probably one of the first times in my life and definitely in my NBA career where I was like ‘something is off,’” Lillard said Monday’s win.

“It was a little frustrating. I just didn’t like not being with the team.”

Brook Lopez led the Bucks scoring with 27 points while Giannis Antetokounmpo added 20.

In Phoenix, Franz Wagner poured in 32 points to help the Orlando Magic claim a 109-99 win over the depleted Suns.

Wagner was boosted by 20 points off the bench from Anthony Black while Goga Bitadze added 17.

Phoenix, missing the injured Kevin Durant, Bradley Beal and Jusuf Nurkic, slumped to their fourth straight loss. Phoenix, who made a blistering 8-1 start to the season, fell to 9-6 after the defeat.

Phoenix coach Mike Budenholzer called on his team to rally around each other as they weathered the injury-driven dip in form.

“Just stay together,” Budenholzer said. “You’ve got to keep going, keep doing the work and keep your head up. This group will do that. They’re very resilient.”

Elsewhere on Monday, Jimmy Butler finished with 30 points, 10 rebounds and five assists as the Miami Heat pummeled the struggling Philadelphia 76ers 106-89. Tyler Herro added 18 for Miami as the Sixers once again stumbled despite leading by 19 points early in the second quarter.

Philadelphia are now bottom of the Eastern Conference with a 2-11 record. Sixers star Joel Embiid once again struggled with just 11 points.

MADRID: Denmark and Croatia completed the Nations League quarterfinals lineup after both sides secured draws on Monday.

Denmark went 0-0 in Serbia, and Croatia came from behind to share 1-1 with visiting Portugal.

They joined France, Italy, Germany, Spain, Portugal and the Netherlands in the last eight.

The quarterfinals will be held from March 20-23.

In Warsaw, Liverpool fullback Andy Robertson scored an injury time header to give Scotland a 2-1 win over Poland and send the host down into League B. Scotland has a playoff to secure its League A status.

Northern Ireland will step up to League B after topping its group. Northern Ireland let slip a two-goal lead but drew in Luxembourg 2-2. Romania hammered Cyprus 4-1.

San Marino will jump into Group C after beating Lichtenstein 3-1.

Scotland wins again

After going nine matches without a win, Scotland appeared rejuvenated as they condemned a Robert Lewandowski-less Poland to League B.

Scotland took just one point from their first four games in Group A1 but beat Croatia at home on Friday and were 1-0 up after three minutes in Warsaw.

Billy Gilmour’s threaded pass found Ben Doak, who rolled the ball to John McGinn to score his second goal in four days.

Scotland hit the woodwork twice in the first half and its inability to open a greater lead almost cost it when Kamil Piątkowski lashed a stunning strike into the top corner of the net to equalize 14 minutes into the second period.

However, Scotland pushed forward for a winner and Robertson headed the decider in the third minute of stoppage time.

Croatia struggle

Croatia needed only a draw to secure qualification but they made the home fans in Split sweat before getting the point they needed against group winners Portugal.

With 32 minutes gone, Joao Felix brought down a superb 45-yard pass from Vitinha and slipped the ball under the advancing keeper to give the visitors the lead. When Andrej Kramaric hit the post and Josko Gvardiol had a 62nd minute goal ruled out for offside it looked like it might not be Croatia’s night.

Bu Manchester City’s Gvardiol got the equalizer just a few minutes later and Croatia held on to take the second quarterfinal spot from Group A1.

Spain beat Switzerland

There was little to play for in Tenerife, where Spain, top of Group A4, took on the already relegated Switzerland.

Coach Luis de la Fuente offered a first start to Barcelona midfielder Marc Casado and gave debuts to Samu and Aitor Paredes in a much-changed Spain side.

But it was the two Bryans, Gil and Zaragoza, who got the goals that mattered for the European champions.

Pedri’s first half penalty was saved but Yeremi Pino converted to put Spain ahead.

Joel Monteiro equalized for Switzerland after 63 minutes but Bryan Gil got Spain back in front five minutes later. Andi Zeqiri equalized again from the penalty spot with five minutes remaining but a stoppage time penalty from Bryan Zaragoza at the other end gave Spain all three points.

Denmark draw in Serbia

In Leskovac, Serbia controlled most of the game against Denmark but could not get the goal they needed to progress from Group A4. Dusan Vlahovic was in fine form for the home side but the Danes held out to take second spot, eight points behind winner Spain but two ahead of the Serbs, for which Strahinja Pavlovic was sent off near the end.

Northern Ireland step up

Northern Ireland finished on top of Group C3 even though it blew a 2-0 lead in Luxembourg.

Isaac Price opened the scoring after 19 minutes and the Standard Liege midfielder set up Conor Bradley for the second five minutes into the second half. The opener was Northern Ireland’s 100th under coach Michael O’Neill.

However, even though the home side scored twice in the last 18 minutes, Northern Ireland ended its campaign with 11 points, two ahead of Bulgaria, who drew at home with Belarus 1-1. Luxembourg finished last.

Romania and Kosovo win

Romania finished on top of Group C2 with a 4-1 win over Cyprus. Daniel Bîrligea put Romania ahead after two minutes and Razvan Marin scored twice before Florinel Coman made it four.

Ioannis Pittas got Cyprus’ goal and the Cypriots’ Konstantinos Laifis was sent off 13 minutes from time.

Kosovo beat Lithuania 1-0 with an early goal from Muharrem Jashari, who was also sent off on the stroke of halftime.

Kosovo finished second, three points behind Romania, but an asterisk remains over the final placings following the abandonment of Friday’s match between the teams in Bucharest.

The Kosovo players alleged they were victims of pro-Serbian chants by the home fans and walked off the field in the final minute. UEFA has opened disciplinary proceedings.

San Marino advance

San Marino will go into Group C at the expense of Gibraltar after beating Lichtenstein 3-1. Gibraltar started the day in pole position with six points but San Marino recovered from being 1-0 down at halftime to score three times in the second half.

Victory also lifted San Marino within reach of a place in the World Cup qualifying playoffs.