NBA: Thompson scores 30 as Warriors roll past Lakers to level series

SAN FRANCISCO -- Klay Thompson caught fire Thursday, drilling eight of Golden State's 21 three-pointers in a crushing 127-100 victory over the Los Angeles Lakers that leveled their NBA Western Conference semi-final at one game apiece.

Thompson scored 30 points in three quarters for the defending champions, who put on an offensive clinic while limiting Anthony Davis, engine of the Lakers' game-one victory, to 11 points and seven rebounds.

Thompson's hot-shooting night let Stephen Curry focus on directing the Warriors' silky offense. Curry scored a modest 20 points -- including a trio of tough three-pointers -- and handed out 12 assists, his most in the playoffs since 2014.

"We realized we let one go in game one," Thompson said. "(We) came out, our offense was flowing, turnovers were low, hitting the open man -- we keep it simple the floodgates can open."

They did, with Golden state scoring 41 points in the second quarter and 43 in the third to push their lead to 30 points heading into the final period.

LeBron James started strong, scoring 14 points in the opening quarter as the Lakers built a 33-26 lead.

But he added just seven in the second period and two in the third before he and Davis sat out the entire fourth quarter, along with the rest of the Lakers starters.

Draymond Green scored 11 points, grabbed 11 rebounds and handed out nine assists while spearheading the Warriors' defense of Davis with ailing center Kevon Looney coming off the bench instead of starting.

Looney's replacement in the starting lineup, JaMychal Green, made just his second start of the season and scored 15 points in 13 minutes.

The Warriors seized control in the second quarter as Thompson drained four three-pointers on the way to 14 points.

Golden State used a 10-2 scoring run, capped by Thompson's three-pointer off a pass from Curry, to regain the lead early in the second quarter and after the Lakers twice drew level Golden State relentlessly pulled away, building a 67-56 halftime lead.

The Warriors kept it rolling in the third with a 15-8 scoring run.

They out-rebounded the Lakers 55-40 and handed out a total of 38 assists.

James' biggest scoring support came from Rui Hachimura, who added 21 points off the bench for the Lakers.

Thompson predicted that the big win will motivate rather than intimidate the Lakers, who host game three of the best-of-seven series on Saturday.

The Warriors struggled on the road in the regular season, but pulled off two big road wins in the first round of the playoffs, when they beat the Kings in Sacramento in game five and a decisive game seven in which Curry erupted for 50 points.

"I don't think it sends much of a message," Thompson said of the lopsided victory. We know LeBron's seen it all. AD has seen it all.

"It's 1-1 at the end of the day. We've got to go to LA and get one and go from there."

Agence France-Presse

Thompson savors fourth NBA title after career-threatening injuries

BOSTON, United States - Klay Thompson didn't stint on the celebrations of his fourth NBA title, one that came in the wake of two devastating injuries that showed the Golden State star just how fragile and NBA career can be.

"Oh, man, I was feeling absolutely incredible," said Thompson, who danced with teammate Stephen Curry as the trophy was awarded in the wake of their game six victory over the Celtics in Boston.

"I was feeling just so high on life that I did not want to leave the stage, and I just know how hard this is, and to be here for a fourth time, like so grateful for my teammates."

Thompson's journey embodied the Warriors' unlikely return to the summit, after their NBA title runs in 2015, 2017 and 2018.

He returned from a 31-month injury absence in January, and his latest Finals run comes three years after he tore the anterior cruciate ligament in his left knee in game six of the 2019 NBA Finals.

He was on his way back from that injury when, more than 17 months later, he tore his right Achilles tendon.

"The anguish that Klay has felt over the last three years ... people can guess as to what it is like, but we saw it up close," Warriors coach Steve Kerr said.

"And, you know, between a second year-long injury and losing what he loves to do most in life, you know, playing the game, it's been a rough go for him."

But even though he didn't take the court until the season was almost half over, Thompson said he knew the Warriors could be title contenders again.

"I saw it in the beginning of season," he said. "People called me crazy. I said championship or bust, because I saw how we came out of the gate, 18-2. And playing just that Warriors brand of basketball that made us so successful, and then knowing I was going to be inserted in that, I knew we had a chance to do something special, and here we are."

Thompson said his 2019 injury "was easier to accept because I had never been hurt before and that five-year run took a lot out of us.

"But the second time it happened it was like, what the heck is going on, man. Just to stay with it, just calf raise after calf raise, after underwater treadmill, so many days, not even touching a ball.

"Then to go through this season with the ups and downs, and even these playoffs, I'm just at a loss for words at times.

"Because I knew this was possible but to be here in real time, man, I don't want to leave. I want to enjoy every second of this. I know how fleeting it can be."

Agence France-Presse

NBA Finals tied, as Curry leads Warriors past Celtics in Game 4

Stephen Curry produced a dazzling 43-point display as the Golden State Warriors battled past the Boston Celtics 107-97 to level the NBA Finals series at 2-2 on Saturday (Manila time).

With the Warriors needing a victory at Boston's TD Garden to avoid going down 3-1 in the best-of-seven series, Curry delivered one of the best performances of his glittering career to reignite Golden State's hopes of a seventh championship.

Curry had entered game four with concerns swirling over his fitness after suffering a knock to his foot in the Warriors game three defeat on Wednesday.

But the 34-year-old two-time NBA Most Valuable Player emphatically laid to rest any doubts about his fitness as he single-handedly hauled Golden State back into the finals with game five back in San Francisco on Monday.

Curry finished with 43 points, 10 rebounds and four assists on a night when Golden State again struggled to find their offensive rhythm for long periods against a powerful Boston line-up.

Klay Thompson added 18 points for the Warriors while Andrew Wiggins produced 17 points and 16 rebounds in a crucial contribution. Jordan Poole added 14 from the bench.

"A lot of pride in our group, a lot of talk over the last 48 hours about how we can get back into this series," said Curry. 

"It's crazy because I still feel we can play a little bit better. But to win on the road and get home court advantage back, is big for this group. We've been here six times, we've got a lot of experience of staying confident and composed. 

"I'm just thankful for everyone on our team because we brought a lot of toughness and physicality tonight.

"We knew how big this game was. For us to come out and do what we did and go home. That five-and-a-half hour flight home got a little better after tonight."

- Green struggles -

Warriors coach Steve Kerr, meanwhile, took the bold decision to remove Draymond Green from the fray during the fourth quarter before returning him to the court for the closing passage of play.

Green again struggled on offense with only two points but finished with nine rebounds, eight assists and four steals.

But the undeniable man of the hour was once again Curry, a model of clear-headed composure as bedlam raged around Boston’s raucous arena.

"Just stunning," was how Kerr described Curry's performance. "The physicality out there is, you know, pretty dramatic. I mean, Boston's got obviously, best defense in the league.

"Huge and powerful at every position, and for Steph to take that -- that kind of pressure all game long and still be able to defend at the other end when they are coming at him shows you, I think, this is the strongest physically he's ever been in his career, and it's allowing him to do what he's doing."

Boston had led by four points at 94-90 with just under five minutes remaining before a Wiggins layup and a Thompson three-pointer put Golden State up 95-94. Curry then extended the lead with a layup to make it 97-94 before driving in the dagger with a three-pointer to leave the Warriors 100-94 ahead.

Al Horford cut the deficit for Boston with a corner three, but Kevon Looney’s layup restored the Warriors' five-point cushion.

Curry then closed out the game, cleverly drawing fouls from Boston to nail five points from the free throw line.

Jayson Tatum led the Boston scorers with 23 points while Jaylen Brown finished with 21 points. Marcus Smart added 18 points and Derrick White chipped in with 16.

Agence France-Presse

Warriors down Grizzlies to advance in NBA playoffs

LOS ANGELES -- The Golden State Warriors pulled away late to beat the Memphis Grizzlies, 110-96, and reach the NBA Western Conference finals on Friday.

Klay Thompson drained eight three-pointers on the way to 30 for the Warriors. Stephen Curry added six three-pointers and 29 points as Golden State completed a 4-2 victory in the best-of-seven series.

They will face either the Phoenix Suns or Dallas Mavericks, who play a deciding game seven in their series on Sunday.

It was nip and tuck through three quarters with Curry making two straight baskets to put the Warriors up 78-77 going into the fourth period.

Curry scored 11 points in the final quarter and Andrew Wiggins scored 10 of his 18 as the Warriors, down by two with 6:55 remaining, turned the tide.

Draymond Green chipped in 14 points, 15 rebounds and eight assists. Kevon Looney pulled down 22 rebounds for the Warriors, who had a chance to close out the series in the previous game and were blown out by 39 points.

They reached the conference finals for the first time since 2019, when the franchise reached a fifth straight NBA Finals but fell to Toronto in the championship series.

"I used to take it for granted," Green said of reaching the conference finals. "I have a much deeper appreciation for it, it's so hard."

The Grizzlies, who eliminated the Warriors in the play-in tournament last year, were without young star Ja Morant, who suffered a bone bruise in his left knee in game four of the series.

Dillon Brooks led the Grizzlies on Friday with 30 points and Desmond Bane added 25, but Memphis could not find an answer at the end.

"This obviously stings," Grizzlies coach Taylor Jenkins said. "Such a special season with a special group, and I want them to cherish that, remember that, despite this loss."

Agence France-Presse

NBA: Klay Thompson scores season-high 38 as Warriors drop Bucks

Klay Thompson turned back the clock with his most points since before his two season-ending injuries, using eight 3-pointers as the foundation for a 38-point explosion that propelled the Golden State Warriors past the visiting Milwaukee Bucks 122-109 Saturday night in San Francisco.

In a battle of NBA heavyweights, Jordan Poole chipped in with 30 points, Andrew Wiggins added 21 and Jonathan Kuminga recorded his second professional double-double as the Warriors won a third straight despite getting just eight points from Stephen Curry.

Giannis Antetokounmpo had a team-high 31 points and Khris Middleton 18 for the Bucks, who buried 17 3-pointers but nonetheless were outscored 54-51 from beyond the arc by the hot-shooting Warriors.

Thompson shot 15-for-24 overall and 8-for-14 on threes en route to his most points since 39 against the Denver Nuggets in March of 2019.

Thompson, who suffered a ruptured Achilles in Game 6 of the 2019 NBA Finals against the Toronto Raptors, missed the entire 2020 and 2021 seasons, the latter after tearing his ACL while rehabbing the Achilles injury.

His previous high this season in 21 games had been 33 against the Los Angeles Lakers exactly one month ago on Feb. 12.

Poole was nearly equally brilliant, shooting 9-for-16 from the field and 5-for-10 from deep en route to his seventh 30-point game of the season. He missed a season high -- 33 against Toronto in November -- by three points.

The Warriors shot 48.4 percent overall and 40.0 percent on 3-pointers in avenging a 118-99 blowout at Milwaukee in January.

Kuminga's double-double featured a game-high and season-best 11 rebounds to go with 14 points.

Curry aided the cause with a game-high eight assists on a night when he attempted just seven shots.

Antetokounmpo got to the free-throw line 18 times -- three more than the entire Warriors team -- and used 12 foul-shot points to raise his point total over 30 for the 28th time this season.

He also found time for a team-high eight rebounds.

Serge Ibaka (15 points), Jrue Holiday (13) and Grayson Allen (12) also scored in double figures for the Bucks, who saw a six-game winning streak come to an end in the opener of a four-game Western swing.

-reuters- 

NBA: Klay Thompson's big night just enough as Warriors hold off Lakers

Klay Thompson capped his 33-point performance, a season high, with three late 3-pointers and LeBron James couldn't take advantage of three free throws that could have tied the game in the final seconds as the Golden State Warriors outlasted the Los Angeles Lakers 117-115 on Saturday night in San Francisco.

Seeking to end a two-game losing streak, the Lakers blew a late six-point lead, then got a final chance to tie when, down 117-114, James was fouled while attempting a 3-pointer with 2.4 seconds left.

But James, who began the game hitting 75.3 percent from the foul line and had missed two of his first six of the night from the line, failed to convert the first of his three before making the second.

The veteran intentionally missed the third, and when the Warriors slapped the ball away from the basket, the Lakers never got another shot.

Thompson, who scored 10 more points than he had in a game after his late start this season, went 5-for-9 on 3-pointers.

Three of his treys came in a flurry that began after an Austin Reaves layup had given the Lakers, who trailed by as many as 15 in the second quarter, a 109-103 lead with 3:47 to play.

Thompson's second of those bombs tied the game at 109-all, and shortly thereafter bombed in a third for a 115-113 advantage with 1:35 to go.

The Lakers had ample opportunity to make up the deficit thereafter, and did get within one when Anthony Davis made a free throw with 1:12 to go.

But Davis missed the second foul shot with a chance to tie, and Russell Westbrook and James missed tip-in attempts.

Stephen Curry made it a three-point game with a short jumper at the 46.2-second mark, and the Lakers never caught up.

Curry finished with 24 points for the Warriors despite missing seven of his eight 3-point attempts. He did add eight assists.

Andrew Wiggins chipped in with 19 points, Jonathan Kuminga 18, Jordan Poole 11 and Kevon Looney with a team-high 12 rebounds for Golden State, which snapped a two-game losing streak, which matched its longest of the season.

James complemented his team-high 26 points with a game-high 15 rebounds and eight assists. The Lakers have dropped both meetings to Golden State this season.

Westbrook had 19 points, seven rebounds and five assists, while Talen Horton-Tucker added 17 points, Davis 16, Reaves 13 and Malik Monk 12.

-reuters-

NBA: Klay Thompson's seven 3-pointers carry Warriors past Kings

Klay Thompson passed Kobe Bryant on the all-time list with the sixth of his seven 3-pointers Thursday night as the Golden State Warriors used a long-distance assault to thump the Sacramento Kings, 126-114, in San Francisco.

Thompson finished with a team-high 23 points, Stephen Curry had 20 and Jonathan Kuminga 18 for Golden State, which won its league-best eighth in a row en route to becoming the NBA's second 40-game winner. The Warriors trail only the Phoenix Suns in the Western Conference and league standings.

Thompson shot 7-for-9 on 3-point attempts, improving his career trey total to 1,829, passing Kobe Bryant (1,827) and moving within one of Chauncey Billups (1,830) for 19th on the NBA's all-time list.

Rookie Davion Mitchell had a season-best 26 points and Harrison Barnes scored 25 for the Kings, who were playing for the second consecutive night. Sacramento beat the visiting Brooklyn Nets, 112-101, on Wednesday to snap a seven-game losing streak.

Thompson, who hadn't made more than five threes in any of his first 10 games after a 2 1/2-year layoff caused by Achilles and ACL injuries, scorched the net for four in a 2:20 second-quarter flurry that turned a 34-25 game into a 46-28 run-away.

He finished with seven or more for the 31st time in his career, the first time in fewer than 25 minutes. Thompson was pulled after 24 minutes in the one-sided win.

Curry sank 4 of 7 from 3-point range, helping build the Warriors' team tally to 20, equaling their fourth-highest total of the season. He also had seven assists, tying Thompson for team-high honors.

Damion Lee (14 points), Jordan Poole (12), Andrew Wiggins (12) and Kevon Looney (10) also scored in double figures for the Warriors, who topped 120 points for the fifth time in their past six games.

Kuminga and Looney were Golden State's top rebounders with a game-high seven apiece.

Mitchell's 26 points were four more than his previous high, set in October in a home game against the Warriors. He also found time for a game-high eight assists.

Maurice Harkless added 18 points to complement six steals, Damian Jones had 17 points and Tyrese Haliburton 10 for the Kings.

Sacramento lost despite shooting 52.5 percent from the field. Golden State bettered that at 56 percent.

-reuters-

NBA: Warriors unsure if Klay Thompson is fully healthy

One week shy of a year after Klay Thompson tore his left anterior cruciate ligament, the Golden State Warriors remain uncertain about whether he is fully healthy.

Golden State general manager Bob Myers addressed Thompson's status Monday in a conference call with reporters.

"I think we've got to take a look at him when we see him. There's different versions of 100 percent," Myers said. "One-hundred percent for you or me with being able to walk around the street, that's not 100 percent for a basketball player playing basketball. ...

"Until we kind of test him and see him, and start him in one-on-one and two-on-two work -- the pandemic hasn't allowed him that opportunity to do those type of things -- there's no rush, clearly."

The latter comment is a reference to the fact that the Warriors' season is over. Golden State is one of eight NBA teams that will not return to action when play resumes this summer at Walt Disney World Resort near Orlando, Fla.

When the league suspended the season on March 11 due to the coronavirus pandemic, the Warriors owned the NBA's worst record at 15-50. 

Their season was ruined by the absence of their backcourt stars, Thompson, who was hurt in the last game of the 2019 NBA Finals, and Stephen Curry, who played in just five of the teams' 65 games due to a broken left hand.

Thompson exited Game 6 of the Finals against the Toronto Raptors in the third quarter due to the knee injury. He still wound up as the game's high scorer with 30 points.

According to multiple media reports, Thompson did much of his recent rehab work at his Southern California home. 

He was back in Northern California on Wednesday, when he and Warriors teammates Curry, Damion Lee and Kevon Looney took part in a protest walk in Oakland, Calif., organized by another Golden State player, Juan Toscano-Anderson.

The rally was one of many held worldwide in the wake of the death of George Floyd, a black man who died while a white police officer kneeled on his neck for more than eight minutes.

Thompson walked the full three-plus-mile path around Lake Merritt and didn't appear to be in pain or discomfort, the San Francisco Chronicle reported.

"As far as I've heard, he's been recovering fine," Myers said. "There hasn't been a setback. But one thing that has been a little difficult the last couple of months has been our ability to see those things as much as you might normally would."

Thompson, 30, is a three-time NBA champion and five-time All-Star. He owns career averages of 19.5 points, 3.5 rebounds and 2.3 assists.

-Field Level Media/Reuters-

NBA: Thompson out until at least All-Star break, says Warriors GM

Golden State Warriors shooting guard Klay Thompson will be sidelined at least until the All-Star break in February, general manager Bob Myers announced Monday.

Myers added that the team will update his status around that point.

"We'll have another update on him probably around the All-Star break," Myers said. "Don't construe that as if we think he'll be back by the All-Star break. That just means we'll have an update then."

The math adds up to the Warriors playing at least 55 games without Thompson, who sustained a torn ACL during Game 6 of the NBA Finals against the Toronto Raptors in June.

The injury didn't stop Golden State from signing the five-time All-Star to a five-year, $190 million max extension the following month.

Thompson averaged 21.5 points per game last season during his eighth year with the Warriors. He was selected by Golden State with the 11th overall pick of the 2011 NBA Draft out of Washington State.

The 29-year-old Thompson has averaged 20 or more points in each of the past five seasons and made more than 200 3-pointers in seven consecutive campaigns.

Thompson made 241 3-pointers last season, his third most behind 276 in 2015-16 and 268 in 2016-17. He holds the single-game record of 14, set last season against the Chicago Bulls.

source: news.abs-cbn.com

NBA: Warriors’ Thompson says torn ACL 'most tragic part of sports'

Golden State Warriors shooting guard Klay Thompson called his torn ACL, suffered in Game 6 of the NBA Finals against the eventual world champion Toronto Raptors in June, "obviously the most tragic part of sports," in an in-depth interview with ESPN on Thursday.

"I knew I did something," Thompson told ESPN's Cari Champion during a promotional event in Los Angeles. "But I've never had the severity of an ACL injury or an injury that bad. So me, personally, I didn't think it was that bad, initially. My adrenaline was so high being Game 6, whatever. I thought I sprained my knee; that's all I thought it was.

"But when I went back to the locker room, it swelled up a lot, didn't feel right. It's just not a good feeling when you feel helpless and the team's out there competing."

He is expected to make a full recovery and return to action during the second half of the 2019-20 season.

"I've heard varying opinions about, especially medically, I don't want to rush it 'cause I want to play until I'm 38, 39, 40 years old," Thompson, 29, said in the interview. "That's my plan, especially because the way I can shoot the ball. I would love to see the floor this season. I don't know when that is."

A few days before he underwent the surgery on his left knee in early July, Thompson agreed to a five-year, $190 million contract to remain with the Warriors.

"The Warriors showed their loyalty and their respect for me, offering me that five-year deal," Thomson said. "Jumped on that as soon as I could, just because the history with this team and the franchise it would be so hard to leave. And the feeling of, you know, unfinished business, getting that close in the Finals, or to the fourth championship -- tasting it -- just being out of reach.

"It's the pain of sports, but it's what keeps me motivated."

Thompson has spent his entire eight-year career with Golden State since being the No. 11 overall pick in the 2011 draft out of Washington State.

He has averaged 20 or more points in each of the past five seasons, including a 21.5 mark in 2018-19. Thompson, a five-time All-Star, has buried more than 200 3-pointers in seven consecutive seasons, as well.

Thompson made 241 3-pointers last season, his third most behind 276 in 2015-16 and 268 in 2016-17. He holds the single-game record of 14, set last season against the Chicago Bulls.

--Field Level Media

source: news.abs-cbn.com

NBA: Warriors to offer Thompson 5-year, $190M max deal - report

The Golden State Warriors are expected to offer All-Star shooting guard Klay Thompson a 5-year, $190 million max contract this Sunday when free agency opens at 6 p.m. ET, according to a report by ESPN's Adrian Wojnarowski.

According to ESPN, Thompson and his agent, Greg Lawrence, have said over the past year that the 29-year-old guard would return to Golden State if offered the full 5-year max deal, which appears to be on track, according to league sources.

The 5-time All-Star suffered a torn ACL in his left knee during Game 6 of the NBA Finals, but Wojnarowski reports that the Warriors are committed to keeping Thompson out of free agency as the team transitions into its new San Francisco arena.

Thompson was selected 11th overall by the Warriors in the 2011 draft. In 8 seasons with Golden State, he's averaged 19.5 points and has a 41.9 3-point shooting percentage. Last season he averaged 21.5 points and shot 40.2 percent from behind the arc.

The Warriors have won 3 championships and reached 5 NBA Finals with Thompson.

Also on Friday, Golden State announced multi-year contract extensions for general manager Bob Myers and chief operating officer Rick Welts.

Myers, who has also served as president of basketball operations for 3 years, has served 8 seasons as GM. Welts joined the Warriors organization in Sept. 2011, after spending 9 years in Phoenix Suns' front office.

Earlier this month, the Warriors reached a fifth straight NBA Finals before losing to the Toronto Raptors in Game 6. They won back-to-back titles in 2017-18.

source: news.abs-cbn.com

NBA: Warriors await results of Thompson's MRI

The Golden State Warriors were still waiting late Monday afternoon for the results of an MRI exam on guard Klay Thompson's injured left hamstring.

The Warriors traveled to Oakland, Calif., following Game 2 of the NBA Finals on Sunday night in Toronto but didn't arrive until after 4 a.m. local time, delaying the test until later in the day.

Backup center Kevon Looney also was scheduled to have an MRI and CT scan after what was announced as a chest contusion sustained Sunday during Golden State's 109-104 win over the Raptors.

Warriors coach Steve Kerr said later that Looney's injury was "something with his shoulder."

The best-of-seven series is tied at one game apiece.

Thompson said after the game Sunday he expected to play in Game 3 on Wednesday.

The Warriors continue to await the return of All-NBA forward Kevin Durant, who hasn't played since sustaining a right calf injury in Game 5 of the Western Conference semifinals on May 8.

source: news.abs-cbn.com

NBA: Golden State owner wants Curry, Thompson to stay 'forever'

Golden State owner Joe Lacob said he hopes to keep guards Stephen Curry and Klay Thompson in Warriors uniforms as long as they play in the NBA.

Lacob made his statement to ESPN after the Warriors eliminated the Houston Rockets in the Western Conference semifinals Friday night in a 118-113 victory in Game 6.

With forward Kevin Durant sidelined, Curry and Thompson took over, combining for 60 points. Curry scored 33, Thompson 27.

"Obviously, my intention is to keep them as part of our organization forever," Lacob told ESPN. "That's our goal. We'll see what happens."

Durant is expected to opt out and has been linked to the New York Knicks, Brooklyn Nets, Los Angeles Clippers, Los Angeles Lakers and others, while downplaying that he's given any other destination much thought. His 2019-20 option is worth $31.5 million.

Earlier this week, ESPN insider Adrian Wojnarowski shed light on the thinking of Thompson, including the likelihood of the sharpshooter jumping to a team in his native Los Angeles if the Warriors don't offer a maximum contract -- $191 million over five years.

"If they come with a five-year, $190 million max deal for Klay Thompson, that's done on July 1. He's going into the new building with Steph Curry. If they try to do anything less than that, you can expect Klay Thompson to be out in free agency. Watch not for the Lakers then, but the Clippers," Wojnarowski said.

Curry's five-year, $201.16 million contract runs through the 2021-22 season.

Lacob has a long-term relationship with Thompson that he doesn't have with Durant, who signed with the Warriors before the 2016-17 season. The Warriors selected Thompson with the No. 11 overall pick in the 2011 NBA Draft.

"I have a special bond with him. I always have," Lacob said of Thompson. "He's the first player, since I bought the team, that we drafted. The very first one. And I just have always felt an incredible attachment."

"People make fun of me a little bit -- I always say I love Klay. I love Klay. I just do. He's so real. He's so real. There's no B.S. And there's something about him, I have a very special relationship with him."

source: news.abs-cbn.com

NBA: Curry, Warriors close out Rockets in Game 6

Stephen Curry and Klay Thompson combined for 60 points, and the visiting Golden State Warriors pulled away late in Game 6 to claim their Western Conference semifinal series with a 118-113 victory over the Houston Rockets on Friday.

The Warriors prevailed in the finale of the best-of-seven series despite playing without their leading scorer this postseason, Kevin Durant, sidelined due to a calf injury. Durant's status is uncertain ahead of Game 1 of the Western Conference finals in Oakland, Calif., on Tuesday against the Portland Trail Blazers or the Denver Nuggets.

Curry, scoreless on 0-for-5 shooting in the first half, sank a pair of dagger 3-pointers down the stretch of the fourth quarter and posted 33 points. He was 8-for-8 from the foul line in the final 30.4 seconds, and he finished with 23 points in the fourth.

With the Rockets trailing 107-104 following a driving layup from James Harden, Thompson nailed a 3-pointer with 36.1 seconds remaining to clinch the series for the Warriors.

Thompson added 27 points on 7-of-13 3-point shooting, and the Golden State bench, largely absent throughout the series, contributed 33 points, with Kevon Looney (14 points) and Shaun Livingston (11) both scoring in double figures. The Warriors finished 16 of 38 from behind the arc, with Andre Iguodala going 5 of 8 on 3-point attempts while contributing 17 points.

Harden paced the Rockets with 35 points and added eight rebounds and four steals. Chris Paul produced his best game of the series with 27 points and 11 boards, but it wasn't enough.

The Warriors also eliminated the Rockets last postseason, winning Game 7 of the conference finals in Houston.

As was the case throughout the series, neither team could maintain a lead once one was established. 

The Rockets forged a 37-33 edge on a Paul pull-up in transition at the 9:26 mark of the second quarter only for the Warriors to reel off a 17-5 run that featured a Livingston dunk, an Iguodala trey and back-to-back threes from Thompson that lifted Golden State to a 50-42 advantage.

The Rockets responded with a 15-5 spurt that included successive 3-pointers from Austin Rivers, Harden and Gerald Green, but the Warriors pulled even at the break with a jumper from Thompson, who had 21 points by the intermission.

In the third quarter, whenever the Rockets pushed ahead, the Warriors clawed back.

Early in the fourth, when Iguodala drained a 3-pointer immediately after the Rockets squandered a 3-on-1 transition opportunity, the Warriors were within 89-85. That's when, finally, Curry arrived and led Golden State back to the Western Conference finals.

Game 7 of the Nuggets-Trail Blazers series is scheduled for Sunday afternoon in Denver.

source: news.abs-cbn.com

NBA: Warriors hold off Rockets despite Durant's injury

Draymond Green and Klay Thompson buried 3-pointers on consecutive possessions late in the game Wednesday night, allowing the Golden State Warriors to survive the loss of Kevin Durant and hold off the Houston Rockets 104-99 in Game 5 of the Western Conference semifinals in Oakland, Calif.

Top-seeded Golden State's third narrow win of the best-of-seven series puts the defending champions one victory away from a fifth straight trip to the West finals.

The Warriors will get their first opportunity to earn advancement in Game 6 of the series on Friday night in Houston. Game 7, if necessary, would be played Sunday in Oakland.

After the Rockets rallied from 20 down to take the lead late in the third quarter, and with Durant in the locker room for the final 14 minutes following a calf injury, the Warriors outfinished their fourth-seeded foe.

A 3-pointer by Eric Gordon had the Rockets down just 89-88 with 4:49 to play, and a free throw by James Harden kept Houston within 91-89 with 3:39 to go.

But Green then buried his 3-pointer, and after a Houston turnover, Thompson bombed in his trey to push the Golden State lead to 97-89 with 2:34 to go.

Houston got as close as three one more time, on a layup by Harden with 18.6 seconds left, before Thompson, after nearly throwing the ball away, dropped in an interior hoop for the clinching basket with 4.1 seconds left.

Durant's injury occurred innocently enough after he hit a jumper from the right side with 2:05 left in the third quarter.

He took a step toward the defensive end of the court before grimacing in pain and looking down at his lower right leg, leading to concerns he might have ruptured his Achilles.

However, the injury was later announced by the Warriors to be a strained right calf.

Thompson finished with 27 points, Stephen Curry 25 and Durant 22 for the Warriors, who continued a run of home wins by the teams in the series.

Andre Iguodala added 11 points, while Green had a brilliant all-around game before fouling out, complementing eight points with 12 rebounds and 11 assists.

Harden was the game's leading scorer with 31 points for the Rockets, who were both outshot by the Warriors from the field 45.9 percent to 41.8 percent and outscored on 3-pointers 39-36.

Gordon chipped in with 19 points for Houston, while P.J. Tucker had 13 to go with 10 rebounds.

Chris Paul and Iman Shumpert had 11 points apiece, and Houston's Clint Capela was the game's leading rebounder with 14 to go with six points.

The Warriors used a 17-0 burst late in the first half to go up 57-37, only to see the entire advantage disappear before the end of the third period, when Harden's floater gave Houston a 71-70 lead.

source: news.abs-cbn.com

NBA: Warriors dispatch Clippers for 3-1 series lead

Kevin Durant scored 33 points and the visiting Golden State Warriors held on to beat the Los Angeles Clippers 113-105 in Game 4 of a Western Conference first-round series on Sunday afternoon.

After winning both games in Los Angeles, the Warriors own a 3-1 series lead heading to Game 5 on Wednesday night in Oakland, Calif.

Klay Thompson scored 27 of his 32 points in the first half for the Warriors. Stephen Curry went 3-for-14, including 1-for-9 from 3-point range, finishing with 12 points, 10 rebounds and seven assists.

Shai Gilgeous-Alexander scored a season-high 25 points for the Clippers.

Danilo Gallinari scored 16 after a scoreless first quarter, Patrick Beverley had 12 points and a team-high 10 rebounds, and Lou Williams scored 12 off the bench for Los Angeles.

The Warriors received strong contributions off the bench from Andre Iguodala, Alfonzo McKinnie and Shaun Livingston in the opening minutes of the fourth quarter, helping expand a three-point lead to 100-91 with 7:05 left in the game.

Curry checked back in with 5:50 remaining and Golden State leading by six points, and the Clippers never got any closer.

The Clippers had taken their biggest lead of the series at 82-77 on a fast-break dunk by Montrezl Harrell with 3:57 left in the third quarter, but the Warriors outscored Los Angeles 10-2 the remainder of the quarter to take an 87-84 lead into the fourth.

Curry made his first basket of the game on a driving layup to stretch the lead to 46-40 with 5:59 left in the first half. The Warriors stretched the lead back to 10 on two occasions in the second quarter before Durant's four-point play with 2.5 seconds left in the half made it 62-54 at the break.

Gilgeous-Alexander scored 14 of the first 20 points for the Clippers, and Thompson made his first seven field-goal attempts and scored 17 of the first 28 points for Golden State.

The Warriors scored the final 12 points of the first quarter to take a 32-22 lead into the second.

Golden State has led by at least eight points after the first quarter in every game of the series.

source: news.abs-cbn.com

Thompson returns with 39, Warriors bounce back, beat Nuggets

By JANIE McCAULEY AP Sports Writer

OAKLAND, Calif. (AP) — Klay Thompson returned from a two-game absence to score 39 points with nine 3-pointers, and the Golden State Warriors bounced back from their worst loss of the season to beat the Denver Nuggets 122-105 on Friday night (Saturday, PHL time) in a matchup of the top two teams in the Western Conference.

Thompson sat out that embarrassing 128-95 home defeat Tuesday night to the Celtics, the worst at Oracle Arena under fifth-year coach Steve Kerr, because of soreness in his right knee. He then scored 27 points in the first half Friday and wound up 9 of 11 from deep.

Having him back meant a lot, and everybody else brought their best, too.

Kevin Durant added 26 points and six assists, and Stephen Curry scored 17 points. DeMarcus Cousins had a strong outing on both ends with 13 points, six rebounds, six assists, six blocked shots and three steals.

The two-time defending champions played with a purpose again, an edge that hadn't been seen much the past month.

With the Warriors on a two-game home losing streak, they didn't let Denver get into the game for any significant stretch — much like a 142-111 road win against the Nuggets in January.

Malik Beasley scored 17 points off the bench for cold-shooting Denver, which lost for the fourth time in five games following a five-game winning streak.

After Golden State's worst loss of the season overall to Boston and fifth at Oracle by 20 or more points, the Warriors quickly got back to work and players spoke up as they spent the next day at film study and practice re-establishing their goals: Do the little things better. Defend. Hustle. Secure home court for the playoffs.

Draymond Green acknowledged the team wasn't competing.

Kerr said his team needed to play angry.

Curry called for action on the court, enough talking about doing it.

Durant challenged everyone, from the coaches on down, to improve.

The collective effort was clear from the opening tip.

Golden State started 8 of 15 with seven assists and eight rebounds to go ahead 20-6 and force a second Denver timeout at the 6:18 mark of the first. The Warriors led 67-50 at the break.

Nikola Jokic had 16 points for the Nuggets, who snapped a three-game losing streak with a 115-99 road win against the Lakers on Wednesday night.

TIP-INS

Nuggets: The Nuggets outrebounded the Warriors 45-44 but shot just 33 for 87. ... Denver outscored Golden State's bench 58-23. ... Trey Lyles missed his eighth straight game with a strained left hamstring. ... Denver returns to Oracle Arena on April 2 after the teams split their two meetings in the Mile High City.

Warriors: Thompson notched his 11th 30-point performance with his eighth 20-point half this season. ... Green moved past former Warriors player, coach and GM and current team ambassador Al Attles (2,483) for eighth place on the franchise career assists list. ... Shaun Livingston was back after missing Tuesday's loss with neck spasms, while C Kevon Looney returned after being sidelined two games with right pelvic soreness.

STEPH'S PROMISE

Curry and Under Armour teamed to fulfill their promise to Riley Morrison, the 9-year-old Napa girl who wrote a letter to the two-time MVP in November asking why his signature Curry 5 shoes weren't offered for girls. Curry apologized and vowed to send her two pairs, including the new Curry 6 model.

Curry announced the ICON Curry 6 "United We Win" edition that features a personal design touch from Riley in the sock liner.

The girl was doing an interview Friday on CBS about the shoes and Curry when he walked in. He gave her a pair of the new shoes and rebounded for her while she shot baskets.

Morrison was Curry's guest for the game on International Women's Day.

Meanwhile, Durant wore bright pink sneakers in the spirit of the day.

UP NEXT

Nuggets: Host Timberwolves on Sunday.

Warriors: Host Suns on Sunday having won 18 straight and 26 of 29 vs. Phoenix.

source: sports.abs-cbn.com

NBA: Balanced attack leads Warriors past Hornets

Klay Thompson scored 26 points and DeMarcus Cousins had 24 points and 11 rebounds as the visiting Golden State Warriors beat the Charlotte Hornets 121-110 on Monday night.

The Warriors never trailed in the final three quarters and led by as many as 17 in the final six minutes before the Hornets went on a 10-0 run to cut the lead to seven, 115-108, with 3:24 to go.

Ultimately, Steph Curry's 3-pointer with 58.5 seconds left settled it, accounting for the game's final points.

The Warriors have now won 16 of their last 18 road games as they embark on a four-game East Coast road trip. They were coming off a home loss to Houston on Saturday night and had lost two of their previous three.

Cousins might have had his best game since returning from an Achilles injury 14 games ago. He was 9 of 15 from the field and was on the court for most of the Warriors' runs.

The Warriors also got 20 points from Kevin Durant, 16 points from Curry, and 14 points and 10 assists from Draymond Green. Curry, in his annual return to his hometown, was just 5 of 18 from the field and 4 of 14 from 3-point range. 

He had averaged 30.4 points per game at the Spectrum Center over his career coming into Monday night.

Cody Zeller scored a career-high 28 points to lead the Hornets, hitting 13 of 14 from the field. The Hornets also got 23 points from Kemba Walker, 16 from Jeremy Lamb, 14 from Nic Batum and 11 from Marvin Williams. 

Walker, like Curry, struggled from long distance, going 9 of 24 from the field and 3 of 12 from 3-point range.

Golden State led 34-30 after one quarter and 68-60 at halftime, after leading by as many as 14 in the first half. The Warriors then led 98-88 going into the fourth quarter. 

The closest the Hornets ever got in the last three quarters was three points, at 89-86 late in the third.

The Warriors came into the game with the best record in the Western Conference, but with only a one-game lead over second-seeded Denver. 

The Hornets came into the game eighth in the Eastern Conference, trailing No. 7 Detroit by one-half game and leading No. 9 Orlando by one game.

The Warriors' trip will continue at Miami on Wednesday and then will go on to Orlando and Philadelphia. The Hornets were playing the third game of a four-game homestand. They will host Houston on Wednesday.

source: news.abs-cbn.com

NBA: Warriors shoot past Jazz with 4th-quarter rally

Klay Thompson and Stephen Curry bombed in a pair of 3-pointers apiece in a late flurry Tuesday night that allowed the Golden State Warriors to overtake the Utah Jazz, 115-108, in a battle of two of the NBA's hottest teams in Oakland, California.

The win was the Warriors' 16th in their past 17 games and gave them a 2-1 edge over the Jazz in a season series that saw the teams split games in Salt Lake City.

Utah lost for just the fourth time in its past 16 games.

The Jazz led by as many as seven points early in the fourth quarter and retained a 93-88 advantage with 8:41 remaining before the Warriors got their high-powered offense in gear.

Thompson began a 20-4, game-swinging run with 3-point and 2-point hoops, the latter drawing Golden State even at 93-all with 7:50 remaining.

After hoops by DeMarcus Cousins and Kevin Durant made it a 9-0 spree for the Warriors, Utah's Donovan Mitchell countered with a basket to narrow the Jazz's deficit to 97-95.

That's when Curry took charge, nailing back-to-back 3-pointers and then a layup in a personal 8-0 burst that opened a 10-point lead.

Ricky Rubio stopped the run with an interior hoop, but Thompson then connected from long range again, giving Golden State a 108-97 lead with just 3:51 remaining.

Durant (game-high 28 points), Curry (24) and Thompson (22) paced the Warriors, who wrap up their pre-All-Star break schedule at Portland on Wednesday night.

Cousins finished 12 points and 10 rebounds, and Andre Iguodala added 13 points for Golden State, which outshot Utah 49.4 percent to 47.1 percent from the floor.

Mitchell had a team-high 25 points for the Jazz, who had a two-game winning streak snapped.

Rudy Gobert recorded 13 points and 16 rebounds for Utah, while Rubio had 16 points, Derrick Favors and Royce O'Neale 13 apiece and Raul Neto 10.

The Jazz overcame a 14-point first quarter in which they made only five field goals to rally into the lead in the third period.

Utah trailed by as many as 11 in the first half but got within 47-44 by halftime and then took its first lead since the game's second minute on a 3-pointer by Mitchell with 4:39 left in the third quarter.

Utah's edge reached 91-84 on a pair of free throws by Neto with 9:51 remaining in the fourth quarter before the Warriors rallied.

source: news.abs-cbn.com

NBA: Warriors stay hot, dominate short-handed Spurs

The Golden State Warriors made 24 of 25 shots bridging the second and third quarters Wednesday night, breaking open a close game en route to a 141-102 shellacking of the short-handed San Antonio Spurs in Oakland, Calif.

The Spurs elected to rest their top two scorers, LaMarcus Aldridge and DeMar DeRozan, in the second game of their eight-game "Rodeo Trip," with the second half of a back-to-back looming Thursday night against the Trail Blazers in Portland, Ore.

Facing a team that held them to 92 points in November, the Warriors led just 49-45 late in the second period before finishing the half 7-for-7, extending the advantage to 66-52 at halftime.

The two-time defending champs then made their first seven shots of the second half, a flurry they extended to 17 of 18 while turning the contest into a 114-81 blowout in the final minute of the third period.

The Warriors scored 49 points in the quarter, giving them 115 for three periods, the most ever allowed through three quarters in the Gregg Popovich era in San Antonio.

Klay Thompson had 26 points and Kevin Durant 23 for the Warriors, who won for the 13th time in their last 14 games.

Durant also found time in his 29 minutes to record team highs with eight rebounds and nine assists.

Stephen Curry had 19 points, DeMarcus Cousins 15, Andre Iguodala 11 and Kevon Looney 10 for Golden State, which accumulated 42 assists, the most by the Warriors this season.

Golden State shot 57.9 percent for the game and 16 of 34 on 3-pointers.

Pressed into his first start of the season with three regulars -- including Derrick White -- out of action, Patty Mills made four 3-pointers to lead the Spurs with 16 points.

Rudy Gay added 15 points, Davis Bertans 12, Dante Cunningham 11 and Bryn Forbes 10 for San Antonio, which began its long road excursion with a 127-112 loss at Sacramento on Monday.

The Spurs shot 43.2 percent, 12 of 32 on 3-pointers.

San Antonio hung within 53-50 on Mills' third 3-pointer of the first half with 3:04 remaining in the second period before the Warriors used three steals to ignite an 11-0 flurry.

Durant, Curry and Draymond Green had steals in the 1:38 spurt, with Iguodala benefiting with two dunks at the other end among five Golden State hoops.

The Warriors led 66-52 at the break, with Durant scoring 17 of his 23 and Thompson 16 of his 26.

source: news.abs-cbn.com