Klay Thompson of the Golden State Warriors shoots throughout the first quarter towards the Portland Path Blazers at Moda Middle on April 09, 2023 in Portland, Oregon. (Getty Photographs by way of AFP)
LOS ANGELES – The Golden State Warriors roared into the NBA playoffs with a 157-101 blowout of Portland on Sunday, making certain the Los Angeles Lakers will battle within the play-in after a 128-117 victory over the Utah Jazz.
Each workforce was in motion on the ultimate day of the common season, however all eyes have been on the Western Convention the place greater than a dozen potential seeding outcomes rested on the outcomes of 4 video games.
The reigning champion Warriors moved rapidly to simplify issues for themselves, exploding for an NBA first-quarter report of 55 factors within the opening body.
Klay Thompson made 5 of the Warriors’ 12 three-pointers within the interval — a report for treys by any workforce in an NBA quarter.
Thompson — who completed with six three-pointers and 20 factors — grew to become the third participant in NBA historical past to hit 300 three-pointers in a single season. Teammate Stephen Curry has completed it 4 occasions and James Harden has completed it as soon as.
The Warriors led by 28 after the primary quarter, and Curry took over with 10 of his 26 factors within the second because the Warriors took an 84-53 halftime lead.
They coasted house, with all of the Warriors starters sitting out the fourth interval.
“It’s been a really up and down season, however once you get to the playoffs none of that issues,” stated Golden State talisman Draymond Inexperienced after the Warriors clinched the sixth seed within the West and a first-round collection towards the third-seeded Sacramento Kings.
“The actual season begins,” Inexperienced stated, “And that’s what issues.”
The Los Angeles Clippers snagged the fifth seed with a 119-114 victory over the fourth-seeded Phoenix Suns — and the groups will meet once more within the first spherical.
Lakers in play-in
The Lakers, in the meantime, completed seventh and can host the Minnesota Timberwolves within the play-in on Tuesday, the winner advancing to the playoffs because the seventh seed within the West.
LeBron James drained eight three-pointers on the way in which to 36 factors for the Lakers, who began the season 2-10 however have clawed their solution to a post-season shot.
Anthony Davis scored 16 factors and pulled down 13 rebounds and D’Angelo Russell added 17 factors for the Lakers, who’ve received 9 of their final 11 video games.
“Our workforce may be very properly put collectively,” James stated. “We bought quite a lot of good steadiness. We did job of placing collectively a workforce that matches round AD and myself after the break. We’re simply attempting to make it occur on the ground.”
With the short-handed Jazz refusing to go away, James made three three-pointers within the final three and a half minutes — the final a last dagger with 39 seconds remaining.
Timberwolves tumult
The Timberwolves snatched the eighth spot from New Orleans with a tumultuous 113-108 victory over the Pelicans.
The Timberwolves by no means led till the fourth quarter. A heated change between ahead Kyle Anderson and middle Rudy Gobert throughout a second-quarter timeout ended with Gobert taking a swing at his teammate earlier than others stepped in to separate the 2.
Minnesota rapidly introduced that Gobert wouldn’t return to the sport, and Jaden McDaniels then needed to depart the sport after injuring his hand punching a wall in frustration.
“We made the choice to ship Rudy Gobert house after the incident within the second quarter,” Timberwolves president Tim Connelly stated.
“His habits on the bench was unacceptable and we are going to deal with the state of affairs internally.”
Nevertheless, Karl-Anthony Cities scored 12 of his 30 factors within the last quarter and the Timberwolves — with 26 factors and 13 rebounds from Anthony Edwards — withstood a 42-point efficiency from New Orleans’ Brandon Ingram to provide themselves a extra favorable play-in place.
In the event that they lose to the Lakers, they will nonetheless attain the playoffs with a win over the play-in recreation between the Pelicans and Oklahoma Metropolis Thunder.
With seeding settled within the East going into Sunday’s video games there was little drama.
The Philadelphia 76ers beat the Brooklyn Nets 134-105 in a preview of their upcoming first-round playoff collection.
Brooklyn guard Mikal Bridges was the one common starter for both workforce to play, clocking simply seconds on courtroom however extending his streak of consecutive video games performed to 392 — an ideal report over the primary 5 seasons of his NBA profession.
Bridges performed his 83rd recreation of the 82-game season — gaining an additional recreation due to his February commerce from Phoenix.
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