LeBron becomes first active NBA player worth $1 billion, according to Forbes

Los Angeles Lakers superstar LeBron James has become the first active player in NBA history with a net worth of $1 billion, Forbes magazine reported on Thursday.

The 37-year-old forward, a four-time NBA champion and four-time NBA Most Valuable Player, ranks second on the league's all-time scoring list and has played in the league since 2003.

In the Forbes list of highest-paid world athletes from May 2021 to May 2022, James ranked second in total income with $121.2 million, trailing only Argentine playmaker and Paris Saint-Germain star Lionel Messi's $130 million.

The Lakers struggled to a 33-49 season and James missed the playoffs for only the fourth time in his career, but he still became the oldest player to average 30 points a game, hitting 30.3 per contest.

In a 19-year NBA career, James has made more than $385 million in salary alone as a player for the Cleveland Cavaliers, Miami Heat and Lakers.

Off the court, James took a star turn in Hollywood with the film "Space Jam: A New Legacy" and sold a minority stake in his production company, SpringHill.

More than $500 million of his value comes from cash and investments.

James has an ownership stage in Fenway Sports Group, which owns English Premier League side Liverpool, Major League Baseball's Boston Red Sox and made a deal to buy the NHL's Pittsburgh Penguins.

His stake in Blaze Pizza is estimated to be worth $30 million while his $80 million in real estate holdings includes a mansion in his hometown of Akron, Ohio, and two homes in Los Angeles.

Agence France-Presse

NBA: Durant becomes 2nd-youngest to 20K points

Kevin Durant became the second-youngest player in NBA history to reach 20,000 career points during the Golden State Warriors' game against the Los Angeles Clippers on Wednesday at Oakland, California.

Durant reached 20,000 when he knocked down a 22-footer from the left wing with 1:41 remaining in the first half. Durant hit the milestone at 29 years, 103 days old, with only LeBron James (28 years, 17 days) reaching the mark quicker.

Durant is the 44th player in NBA history to hit the milestone. He scored 25 points on 9-of-10 shooting in the half as Golden State led, 62-58, at the break.

   
However, Lou Williams scored a career-best 50 points and added seven assists as the Clippers rallied to spoil a milestone night for Durant, dispatching the Warriors, 125-106.

Williams scored 27 points in the third quarter -- the most by any NBA player in any quarter this season -- to help the Clippers snap a 12-game, head-to-head losing streak againstthe Warriors. The Golden State standout scored a season-high 40 points on 14-of-18 shooting to become the second-youngest player in NBA history to reach 20,000 career points.

Williams shot 16 of 27 from the floor and made 8 of 16 3-point attempts while notching his third 40-point outing of the season. Rookie Tyrone Wallace scored 22 points in his third NBA game for the Clippers, who were without forward Blake Griffin (concussion) for the second consecutive game.

Durant (calf) returned from a three-game absence to carry the load with point guard Stephen Curry (ankle) and shooting guard Klay Thompson (rest) out of the Golden State lineup. He was 6 of 7 from 3-point range but couldn't prevent the end of a five-game winning streak for Golden State, which is an NBA-best 33-9.

Williams fueled the Clippers' 39-point third quarter as they took a 97-90 lead into the final stanza. Los Angeles trailed by nine just prior to the midway point of the third quarter but rattled off 13 consecutive points to take an 85-81 edge on Williams' basket with 3:55 remaining.

Williams scored 18 consecutive Los Angeles points and ended his splurge with a 3-pointer with 4.2 seconds left in the period.

"Third quarter I had a great stretch," Williams said during a postgame interview on ESPN. "I had a couple of 15-foot jumpers, rhythm shots. Scorers, when we get shots like that, the basket feels extremely big. Tonight it was a good night for me and I was able to make shots."

The momentum continued in the fourth quarter as Los Angeles opened with a 14-2 push to take a 111-92 advantage with 6:17 remaining. Williams reached a high for points when he buried a 3-pointer to make it 122-102 with 2:36 left and later knocked down another 3-pointer to increase his total to 50.

Curry sprained his right ankle during the late-morning shootaround, and the Warriors opted to hold him out.

source: news.abs-cbn.com

Lonzo Ball makes history with triple-double

MILWAUKEE - Rookie Lonzo Ball became the youngest player in NBA history to record a triple-double but it was in vain as the Los Angeles Lakers lost 98-90 to the Milwaukee Bucks on Saturday.

Ball, who is 20 years, 15 days old, finished with 19 points, 13 assists and 12 rebounds as the struggling Lakers lost their third straight game.

Ball completed the triple-double by getting his 10th rebound early in the fourth quarter. He had 13 points and 11 assists at the time.

He surpassed the mark set by LeBron James, who was 20 years, 20 days old when he recorded a triple-double on January 2005 for the Cleveland Cavaliers.

"I really don't care," Ball said. "We took a loss. It don't really mean nothing. I just wanted to win tonight. I thought we were in good position to get it but it didn't happen."

Giannis Antetokounmpo scored 33 points to lead the Bucks, who also got 16 off the bench from Malcolm Brogdon at the Bradley Center arena. Khris Middleton added 13 points while Eric Bledsoe contributed 11 in his home debut for Milwaukee.

Kyle Kuzma led Los Angeles with 21 points and Julius Randle added 17.

source: news.abs-cbn.com

NBA: Curry inks $200 million deal with Warriors - report

LOS ANGELES, United States – Golden State Warriors superstar Stephen Curry has clinched a new five-year deal worth $201 million, the richest contract in NBA history, ESPN reported on Friday.

Curry, who recently helped the Warriors to their second NBA Finals crown in three years, is the first player to break the $200 million barrier, ESPN said, citing the player's agent Jeff Austin.

News of the agreement wipes away any uncertainty concerning the future of Curry, who had been on a four-year contract worth a relatively modest $44 million until his new deal.

Despite being one of the league's highest profile stars, Curry had languished way down the pecking order of the NBA's best-paid players.

According to the basketball-reference.com website, Curry had been the 82nd best-paid player in the league, earning just over $12.1 million last season.

That figure is dwarfed by the league's highest-earner, LeBron James, who stands to earn $33.3 million next season and $35.6 million in 2018-2019.

According to a survey of the world's best paid athletes released earlier this month by Forbes, Curry had earned an additional $35 million in endorsements to go alongside his $12 million salary.

However, his new deal would make him the world's fourth highest paid athlete -- in terms of annual salary and winnings -- placing him behind Real Madrid star Cristiano Ronaldo ($58 million), Barcelona's Lionel Messi ($53 million) and the NFL's Andrew Luck ($47 million) on Forbes' 2017 list.

'Never count another man's money'

Curry's existing contract had been agreed when there were still doubts about his long-term fitness, with the player thought to have issues concerning the durability of his ankles.

However, those doubts have been obliterated during a series of dazzling seasons for the Warriors that have helped him become a four-time All-Star.

He was named NBA Most Valuable Player during the Warriors' championship winning run in 2014-2015 and the following season became the first player in history to win the award in a unanimous vote.

He averaged 25.3 points per game this regular season and has led the league in three-point field goals for five straight seasons.

That remarkable run of scoring included 402 three-pointers in 2015-2016 -- a single-season record. No other player had passed 300 threes in a season before Curry.

In an interview earlier this year, Curry had shrugged off his disparity in earnings with the NBA's best-paid players.

"One thing my pops always told me is you never count another man's money," Curry told The San Jose Mercury News.

"It's what you've got and how you take care of it. And if I'm complaining about $44 million over four years, then I've got other issues in my life," he said, referring to his current deal.

Curry also revealed he had been aware he was way down the list of NBA high-earners when he signed the deal in 2012, but was happy simply to have the security of a long-term contract.

"My perspective was, 'Man, I'll be able to take care of my family with this. Blessed to be able to know I'll be playing at least in the NBA for four years and see where it goes from there," he said.

source: news.abs-cbn.com

Cavs' James becomes youngest to 27,000 points

Cleveland Cavaliers star LeBron James grabbed another piece of NBA history on Friday, becoming the youngest player ever to score 27,000 points.

James, 31 years and 317 days old, needed seven points to reach the milestone going into the Cavaliers game against the Wizards in Washington.

He scored 11 in the first quarter to surpass former Los Angeles Lakers great Kobe Bryant, who was 32 years and 160 days old when he reached 27,000.

James finished with 27 points and pulled down 10 rebounds in the 105-94 victory over the Wizards -- and got a post-game celebratory dousing with water by his teammates.

"They lied to me," James said of the little locker-room festivity. "They said Coach (Tyronn) Lue had accomplished something and they were going to douse him.

"I was kind of surprised... and they rushed me. Got all my clothes wet but it's my guys.

"It's always great to be able to accomplish that with a great group of guys."

For four-time NBA Most Valuable Player James it's another top mark. He's first all-time in assists by a forward and the only player with at least 2,000 points, 500 rebounds and 500 assists in a season for at least seven seasons.

Earlier this month he moved past Hakeem Olajuwon and into 10th on the NBA's all-time scoring list.

"That's NBA history, man," Kyrie Irving, who led the Cavaliers with 29 points, said of James's latest milestone. "It's truly an honor to be part of the journey like that where you see someone put in so much work every single day and accomplishment after accomplishment and he's really just humble about it.

"Youngest player to 27,000 points -- it's an unbelievable feat," Irving said.

JR Smith scored 17 points and Kevin Love added 14 points and 16 rebounds for Cleveland, who bounced back from their first defeat of the season to improve to 7-1.

Up 58-56 at halftime, Cleveland held Washington to 38 points in the second half as they pulled away.

John Wall scored 28 points for the Wizards but was held scoreless for the third quarter and most of the fourth.

"We have to get back to our defensive ways and coach Lue challenged us tonight," James said. "We definitely picked it up in the second half."

- Still motivated -

The victory came a day after the reigning champion Cavaliers were feted at the White House by US President Barack Obama.

"It's something that, me personally, I will never forget," Lue said. "And hopefully for the guys, they feel the same way. A lot of guys were humbled by the experience.

"When you get a chance to meet the president of the United States and he knows your first name and knows your stats and how you play and who you are as a person, it just means a lot."

But James said the Cavaliers are far from satisfied.

"We're still motivated to continue to get better," he said. "We love playing the game of basketball with one another. It's fun for us. We just want to continue to challenge each other on a day-to-day basis and see how far our ceiling can go, how far our elevator can go. It's a good start for us."

source: www.abs-cbnnews.com

Tim Duncan announces retirement

LOS ANGELES -- San Antonio Spurs star power forward Tim Duncan, one of the best players in NBA history, announced his retirement Monday, ending a brilliant 19-season career that included five league titles.

The 40-year-old Duncan, who was selected as the first overall pick in the 1997 NBA draft, spent his entire career with the Spurs -- an anomaly in a league where players often change teams.

The Spurs reached the playoffs in every one of his 19 seasons.

#ThankYouTD, for everything.https://t.co/tsjN4go8Rk

— San Antonio Spurs (@spurs) July 11, 2016

"Tim Duncan is one of the most dominant players in NBA history," National Basketball Association commissioner Adam Silver said, adding that Duncan's "understated selflessness made him the ultimate teammate."

"For two decades Tim represented the Spurs, the city of San Antonio and the league with passion and class."

Duncan, together with Tony Parker and Manu Ginobili, formed one of the most successful trios in NBA history. They hold the league record for regular season wins (575) and postseason wins (126).

Duncan and Spurs coach Gregg Popovich also formed a dynamic duo, accounting for the most wins ever by a player-coach duo at 1,001.

Duncan, a three-time NBA Finals MVP and a two-time regular season MVP, led San Antonio to titles in 1999, 2003, 2006, 2007 and 2014.

The Spurs posted a 1,072-438 regular-season record since drafting Duncan -- the best 19-year run in league history.

News about Duncan quickly began trending on Twitter, with the hashtag #ThankYouTD taking hold.

"Nineteen seasons. Five rings. One team. #ThankYouTD," the Spurs tweeted on Monday.

He averaged 19 points and 10.8 rebounds per game during his career. But last season's campaign was disrupted by a knee injury and he played in only 61 games.

San Antonio was eliminated in the playoffs this past season by the Oklahoma City Thunder.

Duncan's final game was a 113-99 loss to the Thunder in game six of the Western Conference semi-finals on May 12. In his career finale, he scored 19 points, with five rebounds and a block in 34 minutes.


- Talk of retirement -

At the end of June, Duncan had exercised a $6.4 million player option for next season, but talk of retirement loomed large.

Spanish star Pau Gasol, who during his career has played power forward and center, has reportedly agreed to join San Antonio on a two-year deal worth $30 million, after spending the last two seasons with the Chicago Bulls -- and it now looks like he will help fill the void left by Duncan.

Ginobili, 38, has said he plans to take his time in deciding about playing a 15th season for the Spurs for $2.9 million next season.

He was emotional about Duncan's departure.

"Even tho I knew it was coming, I'm still moved by the news. What a HUGE honor to have played with him for 14 seasons! #ThankYouTD," Ginobili said on Twitter.

Parker said: "Greatest Power Forward Ever! It was an honor to play with you !! #spursfamily."

Kobe Bryant -- who like Duncan won five league titles over a two-decade career with the same team, the Los Angeles Lakers, before retiring -- tweeted: "Congrats TD #19yrs #GoSpursGo."

source: www.abs-cbnnews.com

Warriors earn record-setting 73rd regular season victory

OAKLAND -- The Golden State Warriors earned a National Basketball Association record-setting 73rd regular season victory on Wednesday with a 125-104 blowout win over the Memphis Grizzlies.

The victory came in the final game of the 82-game regular season and snapped the previous record of 72 wins set by Michael Jordan's Chicago Bulls during the 1995-96 season.

"It was a great way to finish off what was an incredible regular season," Warriors coach Steve Kerr, who was on the Bulls team that held the previous record, told a news conference.

"I don't think this one will ever be broken. Someone has to go 74-8 and I don't see it. And I hope our fans aren't expecting it next season. Now obviously we want to finish off the season in the right way and it's going to be a lot of work."

To reach the once unthinkable 73-win plateau, the defending NBA champion Warriors made a record 24-0 start to the campaign, won their first 36 home games, became the first team not to lose consecutive games and had a record 34 road wins.

Any question of whether the Warriors would break one of the NBA's most storied records was answered early as Golden State, powered by reigning league Most Valuable Player Stephen Curry, came out firing against Memphis.

Curry scored a game-high 46 points, including 10 three-pointers to reach a record 401 on the season.

By the time Curry hit his fifth three-pointer of the game with about four minutes left in the first quarter, the raucous crowd at Oracle Arena was on its feet chanting "MVP! MVP!" and the Warriors were well on their way to win No. 73.

Kerr later expressed relief to have his team escape the regular season healthy after chasing a record even though they had the top playoff seed secured.

"Everybody is in a good spot and that was my main concern coming down the stretch," said Kerr, whose team will host the Houston Rockets in their playoff opener on Saturday.

"I was really worried about somebody getting hurt. But you worry about that every year, the difference was we wanted to get this record the guys wanted it."

After the Warriors won last year's championship some implied it was less valid as they managed to avoid certain teams while some of their opponents were hit by injuries.

Rather than shrug off the comments, the Warriors used them as motivation for the current season.

"When we showed up at training camp there was obviously talk about it and we wanted to have a great start to the season which is what we did with that 24-0 start, and from there raised the bar of expectation for ourselves," said Curry.

"That's really all it's about. The expectation we put on ourselves in that locker room. We don't need any extra motivation but we seem to be getting it a lot."

source: www.abs-cbnnews.com

Curry determined to make history with Warriors

LOS ANGELES -- Golden State Warriors star Stephen Curry says the team is determined to forge their place in NBA history by clinching a record-breaking 73rd regular season victory against the Memphis Grizzlies on Wednesday.

Curry and the Warriors stand on the threshold of immortality after a superb 92-86 victory over the San Antonio Spurs on Sunday which saw them equal the 1995-1996 Chicago Bulls' longstanding mark of 72 wins.

Curry said the Warriors are now determined to finish the job in Oakland against Memphis by claiming win number 73 -- even if the priority remains a successful defense of their NBA crown.

"We are in the moment and enjoying the ride, but the goal is to win a championship," Curry said.

"We've put ourselves in a great position to do something no other team has ever done.

"It's hard to step out of the locker room and understand the hoopla that comes with chasing the record. We want to go out and take advantage of an opportunity that may never come again."

- 'It's crazy' -

Warriors coach Steve Kerr -- a member of the iconic Michael Jordan-era Bulls team 20 years ago -- admitted he was still struggling to come to terms with the achievement.

"It’s crazy. It just feels like a right-place-right-time type thing to be part of two teams that have performed like this and won at this level for the entire season," Kerr told USA Today.

"I'm pretty lucky, really, just to play next to Michael and Scottie and Dennis (Rodman) and play for Phil (Jackson) and come here and inherit this whole group, Steph (Curry) and Klay (Thompson) and Draymond (Green) and Andre (Iguodala), and everybody else, as my first coaching job. A pretty good draw."

Members of the revered Bulls team meanwhile are willing on the Warriors to set a new record.

Former Bulls coach Phil Jackson led the plaudits.

"Way-to-Go!! Congrats to GSt Warriors,SKerr&LWalton et al. The journey to 72 wins is a remarkable achievement-very impressive-now get #73," Jackson wrote on Twitter.

Former Bulls guard Ron Harper -- who earlier this season trash-talked the Warriors by claiming the 1995-1996 Bulls would easily beat them -- also piled on the praise.

"Congrats to @GSWarriors_ & Steve Kerr Steph curry and crew go for 72 win and get 73 on weds," Harper wrote on Twitter.

Bulls legend Scottie Pippen -- who only two weeks ago predicted the 1996 Bulls would sweep the Warriors in a seven-game series -- also applauded Golden State.

"Giving credit where credit is due," Pippen wrote on Twitter. "Congrats to @SteveKerr and his @warriors on win no.72.

".@StephenCurry30 showed why he's the MVP. As cold-blooded shooter as I've ever seen and a basketball IQ that is off the charts."

Warriors star Draymond Green meanwhile has revealed that NBA icon Jordan had also offered support during the All-Star weekend earlier this year.

"Mike told me at All-Star, 'Go win the record. Go get the record. If y'all don't win this record, I'm going to be hot and I'm blaming you'," Green said.

source: www.abs-cbnnews.com

Spurs spank Grizzlies to keep pace with Warriors

LOS ANGELES, United States - The shorthanded San Antonio Spurs fended off the pesky Memphis Grizzlies with a 110-94 win to tie the Chicago Bulls for best home start in NBA history on Friday night.

LaMarcus Aldridge had 32 points and 12 rebounds as the Spurs played just well enough to remain undefeated at home this season, stretching their win streak to 37-0 at the AT&T Center arena.

They are now tied with the 1995-96 Bulls for the longest home winning streak to start a season.

"I had good offensive rhythm tonight," Aldridge said. "The guys were looking for me out there."

San Antonio had a 98-92 lead and were struggling to put away the Grizzlies until Manu Ginobili hit a three-pointer with 3:22 left to give them a cushion.

They got two more baskets from beyond the arc by Kevin Martin and Ginobili on the next possession to ice the victory. Martin was starting his first game with the Spurs.

San Antonio "hit three threes in a row and that was it -- it was very, very frustrating," said Grizzlies coach Dave Joerger.

The Spurs improved to 61-11 overall. They have also won a franchise-best 46 straight regular-season games at home since a loss to Cleveland in March of last season.

San Antonio's streak is the second longest in history, trailing only the continuing 52-game streak by Golden State, who beat the visiting Dallas Mavericks 128-120 on Friday.

The depleted Spurs played without an injured Kawhi Leonard and Boris Diaw, Danny Green and Patty Mills, who were all held out for rest. With so many regulars out it enabled Martin and Kyle Anderson to start.

Memphis' injuries woes were even worse than the Spurs. Marc Gasol (right foot fracture), Mike Conley (left Achilles tendinitis), Zach Randolph (right ankle sprain) and Brandan Wright (right MCL sprain) all missed the contest.

Tony Parker scored 14 points for San Antonio, Martin and Ginobili added 13 points apiece and Tim Duncan had 12.

JaMychal Green's 20 points led six Memphis players in double figures. Lance Stephenson added 17 points and Matt Barnes scored 14.

The Spurs led 37-23 after the first quarter and 64-51 at halftime.

Warriors bottle up Mavs

The Warriors took advantage of a shorthanded Mavericks squad to ride another record-setting three-point-shooting performance to a win.

On a night when former Warrior and current Mavericks power forward David Lee was presented with his championship ring, Golden State set an NBA record for most three-pointers in a season by connecting on 21 of 45 attempts.

The 17th of the 21 came with 9:51 to go in the game and was Golden State's 934th of the season, allowing them to pass the previous record set by the Houston Rockets last season.

Klay Thompson dropped in nine three-pointers on a 40-point night and Stephen Curry drained five three-pointers which added up to almost half his 33 points.

The Warriors improved to 65-7 to remain four games ahead of the Spurs for top seeding in the Western Conference playoffs.

Timberwolves edge Wizards in OT

Karl-Anthony Towns had 27 points and 10 rebounds, and Gorgui Dieng sank the game-winning jumper with 30 seconds left in the second overtime as the Minnesota Timberwolves setback the Washington Wizards' playoff hopes with a 132-129 victory.

Zach LaVine had 25 points for the Timberwolves, who trailed late in regulation and both overtimes.

Trailing 129-124 with 1:55 left, Minnesota scored the final eight points.

source: www.abs-cbnnews.com

Spurs beat Warriors, stay unbeaten at home

LaMarcus Aldridge scored 26 points and grabbed 13 rebounds and the San Antonio defense held Golden State to a season-low offensive output as the Spurs made a statement with an 87-79 victory over the Warriors on Saturday to remain unbeaten at home.

The game featured the best combined record among opponents this late in the season in league history.

San Antonio held Golden State scoreless over the final 2:33 while expanding a three-point lead to eight at the final horn. The Warriors missed their last seven shots.

The Spurs (59-10) have opened the season a perfect 35-0 at the AT&T Center and have also won a franchise-best 44 straight regular-season games at home since a loss to Cleveland in March of last season.

San Antonio's streak is tied for the second-longest in NBA history, tying Chicago's 44-game regular-season home run of 1995-96 and trailing only the continuing streak by Golden State (50 games). It's second all-time in NBA history for the longest home winning streaks to start a season (37, set by the Bulls in 1995-96).

Kawhi Leonard added 18 points and 14 rebounds for the Spurs while Boris Diaw scored 14 points and Danny Green hit for 10. The Spurs, who have won six straight games, are 21-3 since losing to the Warriors in Oakland on Jan. 25.

Golden State (62-7), which had its seven-game win streak snapped, was led by Klay Thompson's 15 points while Stephen Curry had 14 points on 4-of-18 shooting (1 of 12 on 3-pointers). Draymond Green added 11 points for the Warriors and Brandon Rush had 10.

It was Golden State's 33 consecutive regular-season loss in San Antonio, a skid that started Feb. 14, 1997 when Spurs' 39-year-old Tim Duncan was a rookie.

The Warriors' previous low for points this season was 89 against Cleveland on Christmas night.

The Spurs started with a smaller than normal lineup, inserting Diaw in place of Tim Duncan at center and the strategy worked, with Diaw scoring six of San Antonio's first eight points.

Warriors coach Steve Kerr was into the game early on and was whistled for a technical foul in the first quarter for arguing when Golden State's Marresse Speights was called for an offensive foul. Kerr had to be physically restrained by his assistant coaches.

Both teams were obviously a little tight because of the implication of the game and it showed in their shooting performance, with San Antonio shooting 35 percent to the Warriors' 33 percent in the first quarter. Golden State was 1 of 9 from 3-point range while the Spurs missed all three of their 3-point attempts. Reserve Shaun Livingston poured in a jumper from the wing with 0.1 seconds remaining to grant the Warriors an 18-17 lead after 12 minutes of play.

The second quarter belonged to the Spurs, who took the lead on a Patty Mills 3-pointer two minutes into the period and expanded it to 10 points, at 38-28, on a breakaway dunk by Leonard at the 3:46 mark after a missed layup by Curry.

San Antonio led by as much as 11 points until the Warriors reeled off the final five points of the half -- three of them on free throws by Curry -- and cut the Spurs' advantage to 43-37 at halftime.

The 37-point first half was a season-low for Golden State (previously 42 against Dallas in a 114-91 loss on Dec. 30).

Leonard and Aldridge had 12 points each for the Spurs at the half, while Curry and Brandon Rush scored seven apiece to lead Golden State.

Curry hit his first 3-pointer of the game on his eighth attempt with a 35-foot rainbow over Aldridge midway through the third quarter that brought the Warriors back to even at 55-55. But the Spurs were undaunted, scoring the next five points on a 3-pointer by Tony Parker and a pair of free throws by Aldridge.

Curry's two free throws with 59.6 second left in the quarter tied the game again at 65, setting the table for a furious final period.

The Spurs grabbed their first lead of the fourth quarter on an Aldridge hook at the 6:25 mark and added to the advantage on their next possession via a putback by Diaw. Green hit an off-balance 3-pointer to move the score to 78-74 and, after Rush answered with a 3 of his own, went straight to the hole for a finger-roll layup to push the San Antonio lead back to four points.

source: www.abs-cbnnews.com

Warriors set record with 27th straight home win

The Golden State Warriors broke the NBA record for consecutive home-court victories Monday night, getting a combined 68 points from backcourt mates Stephen Curry and Klay Thompson in a hard-earned, 119-113 win over the Orlando Magic.

The Warriors' 27th straight win at Oracle Arena this season was their 45th in a row at home dating back to January 2015, allowing them to surpass the previous record of 44, set by the Chicago Bulls from March 30, 1995, to April 4, 1996.

Coming off a game in which they combined to shoot 1-for-18 from 3-point range, Curry (7-for-13) and Thompson (5-for-11) combined for 12 treys in helping the Warriors soothe the sting of their 112-95 road defeat to the Los Angeles on Sunday.

The Warriors (56-6) hit 16 of their 35 3-point attempts Monday, outscoring the Magic 48-15 from beyond the arc.

Curry finished with 41 points and Thompson added 27 as the Warriors extended their season-opening streak of not having experienced back-to-back losses to 62 games.

The Warriors are now 15-1 in second game of back-to-back sets this season.

Curry, who poured in 51 points in a 130-114 win at Orlando last month, became the first player in NBA history to make 300 3-pointers when he connected on his sixth of the night, a step-back 24-footer, during a 13-4 flurry late in the third period that put the Warriors in a seemingly commanding position.

Curry (three), reserve Brandon Rush (two) and Thompson (one) combined for six 3-pointers in the first period, during which Golden State built a 13-point lead.

Orlando, who would up taking a sixth consecutive loss to Golden State, got within four on one occasion in the second quarter.

Curry saved some of his best for the end. He had three consecutive Warriors hoops to stave off Orlando's fourth-quarter rally, capped by his seventh 3-pointer to push the Golden State lead to 109-100 with 3:58 to go.

The Magic did make one more push, closing within 111-109 with 1:13 to play on five points from reserve guard Brandon Jennings and from Victor Oladipo.

However, Thompson turned a broken play into his fifth 3-pointer from the right corner with 52.5 seconds left, and the Warriors held on for their record-setting win.

Rush finished with 11 points, Draymond Green had 10 rebounds and nine assists on a one-point night, and Andrew Bogut amassed 10 rebounds, six assists and four points for the Warriors, who were tipping off a six-game homestand.

Aaron Gordon, Evan Fournier and Jennings had 20 points apiece for the Magic, who began a stretch in which they play nine of 11 on the road.

Gordon also had 16 rebounds for Orlando (27-35). The Magic sit five games out of the final playoff spot in the East.

Oladipo added 19 points and Jason Smith 13 for the Magic, who were coming off 102-84 home loss to the Phoenix Suns on Friday.

source: www.abs-cbnnews.com

WATCH: Highlights of Lakers' win over Golden State

The Los Angeles Lakers registered one of the biggest regular season upsets in NBA history on Sunday when they stunned the league-leading Golden State Warriors, 112-95, at the Staples Center.

Jordan Clarkson led the way for the Lakers with 25 points, while rookie point guard D'Angelo Russell added 21 points and five assists. Julius Randle had a double-double of 12 points and 14 rebounds, while Kobe Bryant scored 12 points in his final game against the Warriors.

Marcelo Huertas came off the bench to give the Lakers a huge boost, tallying 10 points and nine assists in the shocking victory.

Golden State entered the game with a 55-5 record and on track to better the 72-10 mark set by the 1995-1996 Chicago Bulls, but suffered a rare setback against a Lakers team that entered the game with a 12-51 slate.

    Season lows of four three-point field goals on 13.3 percent from three-point range for the Warriors (4-of-30 3FG)

— GSWStats (@gswstats) March 6, 2016
 
The Warriors, however, did not play up to their usual standards. Reigning MVP Stephen Curry had 18 points but shot only 6-of-20 from the field, while Klay Thompson had 15 points on 7-of-20 shooting. The "Splash Brothers" made only one of their combined 18 attempts from beyond the arc.

The Warriors fall for the sixth time this season. Despite the loss, their 55-6 record is the best mark through 61 games in NBA history

— GSWStats (@gswstats) March 6, 2016

The loss dropped Golden State to 55-6, which is still the best record through 61 games in NBA history.

source: www.abs-cbnnews.com

Warriors beat Thunder, tie consecutive home wins record

Stephen Curry turned an offensive rebound into a three-point play to highlight a 10-point, fourth-quarter spurt as the Golden State Warriors outlasted the Oklahoma City Thunder 121-106 to tie the all-time NBA record for consecutive home wins Thursday night.

The Warriors' second win over the Thunder in six days was their 44th in a row at Oracle Arena, allowing them to match the record set by the Chicago Bulls from March 30, 1995, to April 4, 1996.

The win also capped a three-game, season-series sweep for the Warriors (55-5) over the Thunder (42-20). Those games included a 121-118 Warriors win in overtime at Oklahoma City on Saturday.

As was the case last week, the Thunder held a fourth-quarter lead before the Warriors, who have recorded the best record in NBA history through 59 games, rallied.

The Warriors, who trailed by as many as nine in the third quarter and were down 83-82 entering the final period, took the lead for good on backup guard Shaun Livingston's two free throws in the first minute of the final quarter.

The advantage was just 99-97 before Draymond Green scored from the interior with 5:47 left, triggering the game-breaking, 10-0 run.

Curry's key play came after backcourt mate Klay Thompson had misfired on a 3-point attempt.

The NBA's reigning Most Valuable Player grabbed the rebound, circled back to the top of the key before changing directions and using an Andrew Bogut screen to get to the rim for a layup on which he was fouled.

His successful free throw completed the three-point play, pushing the Golden State lead to 106-97 and setting the stage for a runaway finish.

Curry finished with a game-high 33 points for the Warriors, who have won seven in a row. Almost half his points came on five 3-pointers, although it took him 15 attempts to get them.

Thompson added 21 points on 10-for-19 shooting, and Green contributed 14 points, eight rebounds and seven assists to Golden State's fifth consecutive home win over the Thunder.

Kevin Durant had 32 points and Russell Westbrook 22 for the Thunder, but each had more than his usual fair share of problems.

Durant, who also found time for 10 rebounds and nine assists, committed nine turnovers.

Westbrook, meanwhile, hit only eight of his 24 shots, including one of eight from 3-point range.

Serge Ibaka added 20 points for the Thunder, who were playing their second game in two nights.

The loss was the sixth in its past eight games for Oklahoma City, which blew a 22-point lead in their Wednesday defeat against the Los Angeles Clippers.

The Warriors trailed 80-71 with 4:52 remaining in the third quarter before beginning a comeback by holding the Thunder to three points the rest of the period to get within 83-82.

Golden State then opened the fourth quarter with 13 points on its first six possessions to pull into a 95-87 lead. Backup center Marreese Speights had a 3-pointer in the run.

A three-point play by Westbrook at the 6:02 mark got the Thunder back within 99-97, before Golden State took command for good with its decisive spurt.

After a first half that featured 13 lead changes and 13 ties, the Thunder surged to its biggest lead of the game -- 80-71 -- on the strength of two third-quarter runs.

Ibaka had a hand in each.

He broke a 63-all tie with a pair of hoops, igniting a 7-2 burst that opened a 70-65 advantage with 7:48 remaining in the period.

After Golden State closed within one, the Thunder countered immediately with a 10-2 flurry, this one capped by an Ibaka 3-pointer that produced a nine-point lead at the 4:52 mark.

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Curry helps get Warriors back on track

LOS ANGELES -- Stephen Curry secured his dominance over his hometown team Monday as the Golden State Warriors stretched their home winning streak to 35 straight with a 111-101 win over the Charlotte Hornets.

Curry, who averages more points against Charlotte than any other NBA player, scored 30 points in 31 minutes of playing time after having his previous performance cut short because of a recurring left calf injury.

The Warriors used an explosive third quarter to pull away from the Hornets with the help of Klay Thompson who nailed two clutch baskets to spark an 18-4 surge that put them in command for good.

"I was in a good flow and making shots. I tried to be aggressive and stay confident," Thompson said.

Draymond Green posted his seventh triple-double of the season with 13 points, 15 rebounds and 10 assists for the Warriors, who have struggled to close out games recently.

Golden State's home win streak now stands at 35, including 17 this season as they moved a step closer to Chicago's record 44-game win streak from 1995-96. They have the fifth longest home win streak in NBA history.


Curry went to Charlotte Christian high school and his father Dell Curry works as a color commentator on the Hornets' broadcasts.

Reigning league MVP Curry, who appeared unlikely to play earlier in the day, sank 12-of-21.

Seeking to avoid getting swept in the two-game season series for the second year in a row, the Hornets clung within 66-65 in the fourth minute of the third quarter after an 11-4 run to begin the second half.

Thompson answered with 16- and 28-footers, the latter a three-pointer. He finished with 30 points, a majority of which came on six-of-11 shooting from beyond the arc as the game turned into a long-distance shooting contest which played into the Warriors' hands.

Centre Marreese Speights recorded a season-high with 15 points and forward Harrison Barnes, playing for the first time since suffering an ankle injury on November 27, tallied eight points in 18 minutes.

Point guard Kemba Walker and backup guard Jeremy Lamb had 22 points apiece for the Hornets, who were playing without starting centre Al Jefferson (knee injury) and shooting guard Nicolas Batum (toe).

Irving in top form

Kyrie Irving scored a season-high 25 points and all five Cleveland starters finished in double figures as the Cavaliers crushed the Toronto Raptors 122-100.

Irving added eight assists and six rebounds, and forward LeBron James had 20 points and seven assists while sitting out the fourth quarter.

"He's much better than an all-star," James said of Irving.

"If he continues to play the way he's been playing but also continues to progress with his game over the years, he can do something that's very special around this league.

"I'm not going to put too much pressure on him right now, but I know what he can become in this league and tonight he showed it."

J.R. Smith made a season-high eight three-pointers, accounting for all of his 24 points in front of a crowd of 20,500 at Quicken Loans Arena.

"One-hundred points should be good enough to win in this league," Raptors coach Dwane Casey said. "But until we turn it on defensively, we're kidding ourselves."

Guard Kyle Lowry had 23 points and 10 assists, and DeMar DeRozan had 19 points for the Raptors, who twice rallied from big deficits.

Heat sneak past Pacers
Forward Chris Bosh scored 31 points and grabbed 11 rebounds, and guard Dwyane Wade added 27 points to lead the Miami Heat to a 103-100 overtime win against the Indiana Pacers at AmericanAirlines Arena.

Indiana lost despite getting 32 points from forward Paul George, while Miami won its third straight.

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Warriors thump Cavaliers in NBA Finals rematch

MIAMI, United States - Stephen Curry provided a late fourth-quarter lift and the defending champion Golden State Warriors defeated the Cleveland Cavaliers 89-83 Friday in a rematch of last season's NBA Finals.

Reigning NBA Most Valuable Player Curry sank back-to-back driving layups in the final minutes to answer consecutive slam dunks by LeBron James and shut down a Cleveland rally as Golden State improved the best start in NBA history to 28-1.

Curry scored 19 points, grabbed seven rebounds and passed out seven assists while Draymond Green had 22 points, 15 rebounds and seven assists for the Warriors, who also had 18 points from Klay Thompson and 16 more off the bench by Shaun Livingston.

"We want more," Curry said. "We tasted a little bit of success, won a championship, but we have such potential on this team we want to accomplish more. Having the record (start) is great but we want to do a lot more."

The Warriors are on pace to have the winningest record in NBA history and Curry is on pace to break his own record from 3-point baskets in a season.

In a grinding game that produced their lowest scoring game this season, the Warriors improved to 14-0 at home this season with their 32nd overall home victory in a row. They shot only 41 percent from the floor but held Cleveland to 31 percent.

"That was a big win," Curry said. "We came out defensively and did what we were supposed to do. We were a little off offensively but if we can continue to do that, we'll be fine."

Curry missed part of the second quarter after aggravating a right calf injury he suffered Wednesday but said it was only a minor annoyance.

"Nothing serious," Curry said. "I should be back healthy come Tuesday."

James scored 25 points and grabbed nine rebounds but the Cavaliers fell to 19-8, 6-7 on the road, and saw their six-game win streak ended by the same team that beat them four games to two in last June's NBA Finals.

J.R. Smith had 14 points for Cleveland while Kyrie Irving added 13 and Kevin Love and Australian Matthew Dellavedova added 10 points each, Love also pulling down 18 rebounds.

- Butler Did It -

In other Christmas holiday games, Jimmy Butler scored 23 points to power Chicago to a 105-96 upset victory Friday at Oklahoma City while Chris Bosh's 30 points sparked the Miami Heat over New Orleans 94-88 in over-time.

Later contests sent the Los Angeles Clippers against the Los Angeles Lakers and the San Antonio Spurs against Houston.

A week after saying coach Fred Hoiberg was being too soft and laid-back on the Bulls, Butler helped end a three-game losing streak.

"It wasn't part of a plan but whatever works works," Butler said. "I'm going to play with all my might. We've got a great group of guys. If we play hard together, we can do anything."

Butler hit 9-of-20 shots from the field and added six rebounds and four assists for the Bulls, who had 21 points and 13 rebounds from Spanish big man Pau Gasol as Chicago improved to 16-11.

Kevin Durant scored a game-high 29 points with nine rebounds and seven assists to lead Oklahoma City while Russell Westbrook contributed 26 points, eight assists and seven rebounds for the Thunder, who fell to 20-10 with a three-game win streak snapped.

At Miami, the Heat won a seventh consecutive Christmas outing despite shooting a woeful 39.8 percent from the floor.

"We showed a lot of resiliency," Heat coach Erik Spoelstra said. "We'll take this win."

Pelicans coach Alvin Gentry was upset his team managed only two points off of 18 Heat turnovers.

"In 28 years in the NBA, I've never seen that," Gentry said.

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Curry scores 40 in three quarters as Warriors stay perfect

Stephen Curry delivered one of the best shooting displays of his career as the Golden State Warriors maintained their perfect start to the season with a 116-99 victory over the Hornets in Charlotte on Wednesday.

Curry had 28 points in the third quarter and finished with 40 for the game despite sitting out the entire fourth quarter. He was 14 of 18 from the field and eight of 11 from three-point range.

Afterward, he said he could not have imagined a better evening, especially since the Hornets honored his father Dell as their all-time scoring leader in a ceremony at halftime.

"It was a cool atmosphere to play in," he said. "Especially on top of my dad's ceremony. It was nice to be able to get out there at halftime and hear his speech, standing with my mom and sister and my aunts and my grandma.

"So I can't ask for more, to play like I did and get the win on top of my dad's ceremony."

The win moved the Warriors to 20-0, extending the best start in NBA history. The Warriors have now won 24 straight regular-season games dating back to last season.

"It's getting surreal, for sure," Curry said. "It doesn't even sound right, to be honest. The NBA has so many great teams and great talents, so to be able to put on a run like this is special. It says a lot about our focus night in and night out.

"We don't always play our best but we find different ways to win. That's the strength of our team. Different guys step up on different nights."

The Warriors took command quickly, racing to a 28-13 lead and never looked back. They led by as many as 26 at one point.

Curry's explosion came over the final 7:26 of the third.

"Steph was incredible," Warriors interim head coach Luke Walton said. "In his hometown like this, 40 points in only three quarters, I mean, that's why he's MVP of the league."

Klay Thompson was the only other Golden State player in double figures with 21, 15 of those coming in the first quarter.

The Warriors shot 52.3 percent from the field for the game and were 16 of 34 from three-point range.

The Hornets (10-8) shot just 37.2 percent from the field, including Kemba Walker's woeful two of 16. Nicolas Batum led the way with 17 points, while Frank Kaminsky scored 16.

Hornets coach Steve Clifford tipped his hat to the Warriors.

"They played really well and obviously they're the best team in our league," Clifford said. "Steph had a great third quarter, obviously, in a variety of ways.

"The one thing that's disappointing and that has to change is you can't pick and choose when you're going to be physical. We got beat up again on the glass and we have to have someone who is willing to hit people in there."

(Editing by Peter Rutherford)

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Curry, Warriors eye Lakers' magical 33 win-streak

LOS ANGELES -- Stephen Curry said Wednesday the Golden State Warriors are targeting the Los Angeles Lakers' all-time winning streak record of 33 games -- but stressed the NBA champions would stick to a strategy of taking one game at a time.

The Warriors set a new record on Tuesday for the longest unbeaten start to a season in history, routing the Lakers 111-77 at the Oracle Arena to notch their 16th consecutive victory.

The form of Curry and his teammates has prompted many analysts to wonder if one of the oldest records in the NBA -- the Lakers' remarkable 33-game unbeaten streak set in 1971-72 -- could now be in jeopardy.


 Curry said he had discussed an assault on the benchmark with his teammates, but assured reporters on a conference call the team would not get distracted by the pursuit of records.

"It's important to have tangible goals that you can look at and work for," Curry said.

"We do a great job of staying in the moment. Nobody really talked about the 15-0 record until last week when we got up to around 11 or 12 wins.

"You can't really get too far ahead of yourself. There's so much that can happen in this league over 82 games. The great teams are the ones that can focus on each individual game."

Curry put the scale of the task of beating the Lakers record into perspective by emphasizing that the Warriors would need to double their current win streak.

"I've talked about the 33 more than anyone else on the team because I know about the history and how hard it is," Curry said.

"We've had two 16-game winning streaks in the past two years and those are pretty special feats.

"For us to have to double that output, we're going to have to play hard and hopefully close in on that record. But it won't be disappointing if we don't get there. If we get to 29 or 30 games we'll talk about it a bit a bit more."

Looking further into the future, Curry is targeting a place in the USA team at the Olympics next year.

Although a member of the USA squad which won the gold medal at the 2010 World Championships, Curry was bitterly disappointed to be omitted from the roster for the 2012 Olympics in London.

Making his Olympic debut in Rio de Janeiro next year will be a "dream come true," Curry said.

"To go back and represent my country and play with all the other great NBA talent on the Team USA roster is going to be a lot of fun," Curry said.

"It will be here before you know it -- the whole Olympic experience is going to be a once-in-a-lifetime memory."

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WATCH: Curry scores 40 in Warriors' comeback vs Clippers

Check out how league MVP Steph Curry exploded with 40 points as he led the Golden State Warriors to a magnificent comeback against the LA Clippers.

The Warriors had to battle from 23 points down before it could eke out a 124-117 victory to turn back the Clippers.

Aside from scoring 40 markers, Curry also walked away with a total of 11 rebounds.

With the win, Golden State became one of four teams in NBA history to open the season with a 13-0 record.

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Leonard nets career-high 32 in Spurs' win over Clippers

Kawhi Leonard showed why he is worthy of being named the defensive player of the year, putting his complete game on display for the San Antonio Spurs.

Leonard scored a career-high 32 points to carry the Spurs to a 100-73 win over the Los Angeles Clippers and a 2-1 lead in their best-of-seven Western Conference playoff series.

In the other playoff contests Friday, the Houston Rockets and Washington Wizards also won to take commanding 3-0 series leads. No team in NBA history has ever lost after taking a 3-0 lead in a best-of-seven series.

Leonard not only anchored the Spurs' defense but he wasted no time putting his stamp on the game offensively.

He finished 13-of-18 shooting with three steals and two blocks, playing less than two minutes in the fourth quarter with the game well in hand. Leonard was named the league's top defensive player earlier Friday.

Boris Diaw came off the bench to finish with 15 points and six rebounds in the win. Two-time MVP Tim Duncan, who scored 28 points to carry the Spurs to their overtime win in game two, finished with just four points on two-of-six shooting from the field.

The Spurs will look to take a commanding 3-1 series lead in Sunday's game four.

The Clippers won game one in convincing fashion and lost a close contest in game two, but they were overmatched in their first game in San Antonio.

Blake Griffin tallied 14 points, 10 rebounds and five assists in the loss.

Chris Paul committed six turnovers and finished with just seven points. The Clippers' reserves also struggled as Jamal Crawford missed all but one of the 11 shots from the field he attempted. The reserves had just 30 points on 41 shots.

James Harden and Dwight Howard set playoff career highs as Houston beat the Dallas Mavericks 130-128 and are now just one victory away from advancing to the second round.

Harden netted 42 points, Howard snatched 26 rebounds for the Rockets, who trailed by 13 in the first half before storming back. Harden scored 16 in third quarter and knocked down a jumper with 13 seconds left that helped seal the win.

"I have seen it a lot this year," said Houston coach Kevin McHale of Harden. "The guy's played fantastic and a big game when we needed him to play well, he has. He has stepped up."

Houston can close out the series with a victory Sunday back at American Airlines Center.

Paul Pierce was the catalyst down the stretch for the Wizards who are on the brink of reaching the Eastern Conference semi-finals after beating the Toronto Raptors 106-99.

Pierce scored 11 of his 18 points in the fourth quarter, including a couple of key three-pointers.

Marcin Gortat had 24 points with 13 rebounds, John Wall tallied 19 points and 15 assists and Bradley Beal added 16 points for Washington, who like the Rockets will look to close out the series on Sunday.

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Heat and Spurs prepare for ultimate test

MIAMI - One of the most turbulent championships in National Basketball Association (NBA) history will reach its climax on Thursday (Friday in Manila) when the Miami Heat and San Antonio Spurs meet in the decisive seventh game of the Finals.

Basketball fans in the United States have been whipped into a frenzy of excitement by what has already been a classic series full of wild fluctuations and escalating drama.

The teams have raised their games to new heights, producing an extraordinary standard of play and athleticism which peaked with Miami's exhilarating overtime win on Tuesday that tied the series at 3-3.

With everything on the line for Game Seven, the stakes could not be higher with millions of people around the world expected to tune in for Thursday's grand finale.

"They're the best two words in team sports, 'Game Seven,'" said Miami coach Erik Spoelstra.

"Our guys aren't looking for games that are less meaningful. We're looking for games that are more meaningful. And there's nothing bigger than a Game Seven."

As defending champions, Miami were overwhelming favorites to win the title. They were almost unstoppable during the regular season, winning a franchise-record 66 games, including a 27-game stretch that is the second longest in NBA history.

With LeBron James, the sport's best player and biggest star, at the peak of his powers alongside Dwyane Wade and Chris Bosh, the Heat's 'Big Three' seemed a sure bet to win back-to-back championships.

When they are on their game, few teams can contain them, and the crowds in South Florida love it, whooping and hollering as they pile on the points against overmatched opponents.

But the Spurs, chasing their fifth championship since 1999, have answered the challenge with their own 'Big Three' of Tim Duncan, Tony Parker and Manu Ginobili.

As former champions, the three veterans know what it takes to win and have used all their streetwise knowledge to rattle the top-seeded Heat.

Every game, every quarter, every minute, every shot and every rebound has been fought over, with players leaping and diving on the hardwood for any possession.

"That's what this series is about, it's the competition," said Spoelstra. "It's not just statistics. It's not all the other storylines. It's about the competition against an equal opponent."

Seesaw battle

The first six games were a seesawing battle with the teams alternating wins and losses. If that pattern continues in Game Seven, San Antonio will be crowned champions but history favours Miami, who have the homecourt advantage.

Of the 17 previous NBA Finals that have gone seven games, the visiting team has won three times. The most recent was 35 years ago when the Washington Bullets upset the SuperSonics in Seattle.

"I don't really care what it's been like for anybody else at any time," San Antonio coach Gregg Popovich growled. "All I know is we have had a hell of a year, and we have an opportunity to win a championship tomorrow night. That's all that matters."

The series was elevated to one of the all-time greats after Tuesday's breathless encounter, which has been described as one of the greatest games in NBA history after Miami pulled off a miracle comeback.

Needing a win the keep the series alive, Miami trailed by 13 points late in the third quarter and by five with 28 seconds to play in regulation after they had already fought back to take the lead.

Ray Allen, the sport's greatest three-point shooter, drained one from behind the arc with five seconds remaining to force overtime, where Miami went on to snatch a 103-100 victory.

James scored a game-high 32 points but no one is under more pressure than him in Game Seven. He is not only playing for a second championship but his place in history.

Despite being awarded the NBA's Most Valuable Player award four times, including this season, the 28-year-old continues to earn unflattering comparisons to Michael Jordan, who won five MVP awards and six championships with the Chicago Bulls.

James is appearing in just his fourth Finals. He lost his first with Cleveland then his second after moving to Miami three years ago.

He broke through for his first win last season but knows only too well he will bear the brunt of the blame should Miami fail to repeat.

"It is what it is. I understand the moment for me," said James.

"I'm going to be excited. I'm going to have some butterflies. I'll be nervous, everything. That's how I should be."

(Editing by Frank Pingue)

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