Author: rxslugger

Retired pharmacist who now has a career as a sports writer and broadcaster

Warriors grind out a win over Magic 101-93; Green gets 4th ejection of season

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Golden State Warriors forward Draymond Green (23) tries to keep the ball away from Orlando Magic forward Pablo Banchero (5) in the first half in Orlando on Wed Mar 27, 2024 (AP News photo)

By Jerry Feitelberg

The stage was set for an intense battle as the Warriors squared off against the Orlando Magic on Wednesday night in Orlando. The Magic, boasting a formidable lineup with five players towering over six feet ten inches and one at six feet nine inches, currently sit atop the Southeast Division with an impressive record of 42-29.

The absence of the Warriors’ Jonathan Kuminga only added to the challenge. The Magic, known for their defensive prowess, rank among the top four defensive teams in the NBA. They also lead the league in the number of free throws taken, a testament to their aggressive style of play. The Warriors, facing a significant height disadvantage, knew they had their work cut out for them.

To make matters worse, Draymond Green was charged with two technical fouls with less than four minutes of action. Draymond was ejected. The Warriors’ head coach, Steve Kerr, had to find a way to beat the Magic.

The Magic’s game plan was to bottle up Stephen Curry and Klay Thompson. Keeping those two under their season’s averages meant someone had to step up. Andrew Wiggins was the man. Wiggins scored 13 of his 23 points in the fourth quarter. Wiggins blocked a shot late in the game to help the Warriors hold off the Magic. The Warriors held on a late Magic run to win the game 101-93.

The Magic scored the game’s first basket to lead 2-0. With the score tied 6-6, Wiggins was called for a foul. Green argued with the referee and received his first technical foul. As the Refs walked up the court, Green did something that got him his second technical and an automatic ejection.

The Magic’s last lead came with a score of 8-6. The Warriors went on a 21-4 run to finish the quarter leading 27-11. Moses Moody, Brandin Podziemski, and Thompson paced the Warrior offense.

The Magic’s offense fought back in the second quarter. The Magic outscored the Dubs by eight, 26-18, to finish the first half trailing 45-37. Both teams were playing excellent defense. The Warriors held the Magic to 37 points in the half.

Last Night in Miami, The Warriors held the Heat to 32 points in the second half. Even without Green, the Warriors showed the NBA they know how to defend. Wiggins, Thompson, and Podziemski were excellent, keeping the much bigger Magic squad from scoring points in the paint.

Wiggins and Thompson led the Warriors with seven points in the half. Curry had six. Moses Moody knocked a key three and had five in the half. Podziemski and Gary Payton II each had six. The leading scorer for Orlando was Paolo Branchero, who scored nine. The Warriors’ defense held the Magic to 30% from the floor.

Things changed in the third quarter. The Magic, the worst team in the league shooting threes, connected on four threes to trail 49-41. The Magic’s Cole Anthony connected on five threes to help his team close the gap. The Warriors regrouped and led by 15, 63-48, after Gui Santos hit a three. Orlando went on an 11-2 run to trail by six, 65-59. The Magic won the quarter 29-27 to trail by six, 72-66 at the end of three quarters.

Wiggins hit a three to start the fourth quarter. The Magic hit a three, and Wiggins hit another three. The Warriors had an answer for every Magic bucket, but the Magic kept on coming. With the score 94-88, Orlando hit a three to make it 94-91. The Warriors failed to score. Orlando made a two-point play to trail by one, 94-93. Payton made a three, and Curry scored the game’s last five points. The Warriors win 101-93.

Game Notes: The Warriors are now 38-34. They have ten games left in the regular season. They play the Charlotte Hornets on Friday night in Charlotte. The Magic fell to 42-30.

Wiggins had one of his best games of the season. He led the team with 23 points, pulled down six rebounds, and blocked a shot late in the fourth quarter to help the Warriors win. Curry finished with a double-double. Curry scored 17 points and had ten assists. Curry made three threes.

Thomson tallied 15, and he, too, had three threes. Moody had 12, Gary Payton ten. The Warriors shot 44% from the floor as a team and made ten threes. The Warrior’s defense held the Magic to 42%. The Magic also made ten threes. The leading score for Orlando was Cole Anthony. Coming off the bench, Anthony recorded 26 points. He made five threes in seven tries. Banchero had 15, and Franz Wagner added 14.

The Warrior’s game against the Hornets starts at 4 pm Friday.

Warriors bounce back rout Memphis Grizzlies 137-116; Curry scores his 300th 3 pointer in a season for the fifth time

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Golden State Warriors forward Jonathan Kuminga (00) gets the throw down on the Memphis Grizzlies forward Jake LaRavia (right) in the first half at Chase Center in San Francisco on Wed Mar 20, 2024 (AP News photo)

By Jerry Feitelberg

The Golden State Warriors (36-32) welcomed the Memphis Grizzlies (23-47) to the Chase Center Wednesday night. Despite the absence of two crucial players, the Grizzlies’ superstar Ja Morant, who averages 25 points per game, and Marcus Smart, the team showed resilience but it wasn’t enough as the Warriors defeated the Grizzlies 137-116.

The Grizzlies still had players who could produce, counting on Gregory Jackson, Jaren Jackson, Jr., and Desmond Bane as the offensive weapons. The Warriors, still reeling from losing to the New York Knicks on Monday night, were eager to bounce back.

The Grizzlies, however, were to be considered. The teams engaged in a fast-paced first quarter, with the Grizzlies making seven three-point shots. Guard Stephen Curry of the Warriors also contributed with two threes, leading the Warriors 24-19. Curry achieved his 300th 3 pointer in a season for the fifth time in his career. The Grizzlies outscored the Warriors 12-8 in the closing minutes of the quarter to lead the Warriors 33-32.

In the second quarter, the game took an intense turn. Moses Moody’s three-pointer gave the Warriors a slight edge, but a scuffle between Draymond Green and Bane added a dramatic twist. Both players received technical fouls.

Jonathan Kuminga’s steal and dunk further fueled the Warriors’ momentum, leading to a 10-0 run and a halftime score of 68-58 in favor of the Warriors. Kuminga’s impressive performance, with 18 points, was a highlight of the quarter.

Kuminga led the Warriors with 18 points. The Grizzlies, led by Santi Aldama’s 21 points, Aldama made six threes. Memphis fought back with their three-point shooting, making 12 threes in 30 attempts.

The Warriors showcased their dominance at the start of the third quarter. Curry ignited the run with a three-pointer, marking his 300th three-point shot of the season, a testament to his exceptional career.

The Warriors maintained their momentum, completing a 31-3 run, including the last ten points scored in the first half, to lead 89-61. The Grizzlies’ offense, however, started to find its rhythm and made baskets. The Warriors won the quarter 40-32 and led by 18, 108-90.

Curry did not play in the fourth quarter. The Warrior’s second unit, led by Chris Paul, Klay Thompson, and Trayce Jackson-Davis, kept the pressure on the Grizzlies’ defense. The Warriors offense put 29 points on the board to record their highest point total in a game this year.

Game Notes—With the win, The Warriors are 36-32. They have 14 games left to play. The Warriors had a season-high 43 assists. Green (10 points and 12 rebounds), Chris Paul( 12 points and 14 assists), and Andrew Wiggins( 22 points, 10 rebounds) each had a double-double.

The Warriors’ offensive prowess was on full display, with seven players scoring in double figures. Kuminga led the team with 26 points, Thompson with 23, and Wiggins with 22. Despite not playing in the fourth quarter, Curry contributed 14 points. Jackson-Davis also made a significant impact with 13 points. Thompson’s five three-pointers were a testament to his shooting skills.

The Grizzlies Aldama and Gregory Jackson had career-highs in scoring. Alama torched the Warriors for 29 points. Aldama made seven threes. He had six in the first half and made just one in the second. Jackson also made seven threes and put 35 points on the board for Memphis.

Jaren Jackson posted 28 points. Jackson has been one tough customer for the Warriors to handle. Wednesday night was no exception. The only other Memphis player in double figures was Jake LaRavia with 12. The Grizzlies attempted 49 three-point shots. They made 18. The Warriors made 19 in 29 tries. 

The Warriors’ head coach Steve Kerr had to be pleased with his teams’ performance Wednesday night. The Warriors must play their best basketball of the season. The way things stand now, the Warriors are in 10th place in the Western Conference. They would have to win two play-in games to make the playoffs and then face a team with a high seeding. 

The Warriors play the Indiana Pacers at the Chase Center on Friday night. The game will start at 7 pm.

Knicks lead wire-to-wire beat Warriors 119-112; Fifth loss in last ten games for Golden State

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New York Knicks guard Jalen Brunson (11) pushes away Golden State Warriors guard Stephen Cury (11) while driving the ball in the first half at the Chase Center in San Francisco on Mon Mar 18, 2024 (AP News photo)

By Jerry Feitelberg

The Golden State Warriors (35-32) hosted the New York Knicks (41-27) at the Chase Center on Monday night. The Warriors, fresh off an important win over the LA Lakers Saturday night, wanted to record another win.

The Knicks had won three in a row and were playing well. The Warriors needed to find a way to stop Jalen Brunson and not let any of the Knicks’ role players beat them. The Knicks got off to a good start and never relinquished the lead. New York York won 119-112. 

The Knicks scored the first eight points of the game. New York led 20-6 before the Warriors’ offense started to put points on the board. The Knicks won the quarter 30-22. 

The Knicks continued to dominate play in the second quarter. The Warriors needed a defense for guard Miles McBride. McBride, averaging 6.5 points per game, torched the Warriors, knocking down 19 points in the first half and connecting on five threes in the half.

The Warriors were down 59-44 until Warrior guard Stephen Curry and Jonathan Kuminga tallied ten points to come within five, 59-44. The Knicks finished the first half with a six-point advantage, 62-56 Curry led the Warriors with 15. Kuminga and Chris Paul were second with 12. Brunson tallied 14.

The Warriors knew a six-point lead was not insurmountable. The Warriors wanted to get off to a good start and play better defense. The Knicks did not let that happen. The Warriors’ defense could not contain Brunson. The Knicks’ offense got help from former Warriors Donte DiVincenzo, who made four threes. The Knicks finished the third quarter leading by 11, 99-88.

The Warriors went on a 7-0 run in the fourth quarter to cut the deficit to four, 99-95. The Knicks increased the lead to nine, 106-95. The Warriors went over four minutes without scoring. The Knicks defense refused to wilt. The Warriors could not get any closer. New York won.

Game Notes: The Warriors celebrated women’s empowerment by having women do all the broadcasting. Jenny Cavner, who will be in the broadcast booth doing play-by-play broadcasting for the Oakland A’s, was in the TV booth with Lachina Robinson. The Warriors had four women do the pre-and post-game segments.

With the loss, the Warriors are 35-32. They fell one game behind the LA Lakers in the battle for the play-in tournament. The Warriors must win both play-in games to advance to the playoffs. The Warriors have 15 games left to play. The Knicks improved to 41-27. New York has won their last four games.

Mavericks grind out 109-99 win over Warriors

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Golden State Warriors Jonathan Kuminga (00) takes a shot against the Dallas Mavericks Dereck Lively II (2) at American Airlines Arena in Dallas on Wed Mar 13, 2024 (AP News photo)

By Jerry Feitelberg

The Golden State Warriors (34-31) had to play the Dallas Mavericks (38-28) Wednesday night without two starters. Stephen Curry was held out from playing as he recovered from a sprained right ankle.

The Warriors head coach, Steve Kerr, gave Draymond Green the night off. The Warriors knew they had to find a way to stop the Mavs’ superstar Luka Doncic. Doncic had seven consecutive triple-doubles before Wednesday’s game.

Doncic is averaging 34.6 points per game, 9.9 rebounds, and 9.1 assists. The Warriors’ defense held Doncic to 21 points, three rebounds, and nine assists. The Warrior defense held the Mavericks to 109 points. Normally, the Warriors would win the game when that happens. Not so on Wednesday. The Dallas defense held the Warriors to 15 points in the second quarter.

The Warriors trailed Dallas by six at the half, 48-42. The Warriors never gained the lead. The Warriors played catch-up the entire second half. The Mavericks won 109-99.

The game between the Warriors and the Mavericks was a thrilling display of competitive basketball. The first quarter saw both teams locked in a tight battle, with neither side able to gain a significant advantage. The score was tied at 27-27 after the first 12 minutes of action, setting the stage for an exciting game.

In the second quarter, the Dallas defense kept the Warriors from scoring. Dallas went on a 13-2 run to lead 40-29. The Warriors woke up and started scoring. The Mavs won the quarter 21-16 to gain a 48-42 lead.

As the game progressed into the third quarter, the Warriors knew they had to step up their game. They scored 28 points, matching the Mavs’ score for the period. However, this was not enough to close the gap, and the Mavs maintained their lead at 76-70 as the teams moved into the fourth quarter. Despite the six-point deficit, the fans knew that an NBA team could come back, adding to the anticipation of the final quarter. 

Klay Thompson knocked a deuce to bring the Warriors within four points of the lead. The Warriors didn’t know then, but they would not get any closer. The Mavericks went on an 18-2 run. Dallas led 92-74. Dallas could not be caught. The Mavericks won 109-99.

Game Notes: The Warriors are 34-31 for the year. They have 17 games left to play. They are in 10th place in the Western Conference. The Mavs improved to 38-28. 

Jonathan Kuminga led the Warriors with 27 points, four rebounds, and two assists. He also connected on two threes from downtown. Kuninga has scored 20 points or more in seven of his last nine games. Andrew Wiggins had 17 points and five boards. Trayce Jackson-Davis tallied 10 points and nine rebounds. Brandin Podzienski had 11 points, five rebounds, and six assists.

Podzienski knocked down two three. Chris Paul had nine, and Klay Thompson ended with eight. The Dallas defense made sure Thompson had to work to get his shots. With Curry out, Dallas kept the clamps on Thompson.

The Warriors shot 40% from the floor and made nine threes in 28 attempts. They outrebounded the taller Maverick team 53-47. The Mavs blocked 13 shots to deter the Warriors’ attack.

The other key performers for Dallas were Kyrie Irving, PJ Washington, Daniel Gafford, Dereck Lively, and Josh Green. All were in double figures. 

The Warriors finish the three-game road trip on Saturday when they play the Los Angeles Lakers. The game will start at 5:30 pm.

Warriors take down Spurs in San Antonio 112-102; Win ends Golden State’s 3 game skid

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Golden State Warriors forward Trayce Jackson-Davis (32) drives to the basket against the San Antonio Spurs forward Zach Collins (23) at the Frost Bank Center in San Antonio on Mon Mar 11, 2024 (AP News photo)

By Jerry Feitelberg

The Golden State (34-30) Warriors were in San Antonio on Monday night to face the San Antonio Spurs (14-51). The Warriors wanted to avenge their loss to San Antonio last Saturday night in San Francisco.

The Spurs did not play two of their starters on Saturday. However, Victor Wembanyama ( 20.7 PPG, ten boards per game, and Devin Vassell (19.5 PPG) were back in the lineup.

Stephen Curry was still out with an ankle injury. The Warriors had to figure out a way to stop the Spurs—the Warriors needed players to step up to achieve that goal. The veteran point guard, Chris Paul, rose to the occasion. The Warriors’ play action in the third quarter sent them to a 112-102 win.

The Spurs started Monday night’s game the same way they started in San Francisco last Saturday night. They played well in the first quarter, shot 62% from the floor, and connected on six three as they raced out to a 10-point lead 37-27.

The Warriors’ offense came to life as they erased the deficit and tied the game 43-43. The Warriors and Spurs swapped the lead several times before the first half ended. San Antonio held a two-point advantage at the end of the first half.

Klay Thompson paced the Warrior attack with 12 points. Chris Paul had 11, Andrew Wiggins 10, and Brandin Podzienski hit three threes to finish with nine. The Spurs’ Wembanyama led his team with ten. The Warriors trailed 60-58.

.The Warriors fell behind by five, 72-67, to start the third quarter. The Warrior’s defense shut down the Spurs’ attack. Golden State went on a 23-2 run to grab a 16-point lead, 90-74. Thompson, Jonathan Kuminga, Trayce Jackson-Davis, and Podzienski. The Warriors finished the third quarter leading 90-78.

The Spurs’ Victor Wemanyama connected on two threes to keep the Spurs within striking distance. The Warriors answered every San Antonio challenge and held on to beat the Spurs 112-102.

Game Notes: The Warriors are 34-30 for the season, 15-5 in the last 20 games, and have 18 games left. San Antonio fell to 14-51. 

The Warriors had six players in double figures. Kuminga led the Warriors with22. Thompson with 21, Paul had 19 points, nine rebounds and eight assists. Andrew Wiggins had 16, and Podzienski had 14. Podzienski also had eight rebounds. Rookie Jackson-Davis had a double-double with 13 points and ten rebounds.

Wembanyama tallied 27 points and 14 rebounds. Keldon Johnson had 16, and Zach Collins, coming off the bench, had a double-double with ten points and ten rebounds. 

The Warriors play the Dallas Mavericks on Wednesday in Dallas. The game will start at 5:30 pm.

The Warriors lose a nail-biter to the Chicago Bulls 125-122

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The Chicago Bulls center Nikola Vucevic (9) tries to reach in for the basketball against the Golden State Warriors guard Klay Thompson (11) in the first half at Chase Center in San Francisco on Thu Mar 8, 2024 (AP News photo)

By Jerry Feitelberg

The Golden State Warriors (33-30) played a back-to-back game Wednesday and Thursday nights at the Chase Center. The Chicago Bulls (32-32) were in San Francisco after beating the Sacramento Kings on Monday and the Utah Jazz last night.

The Bulls were going for their third straight win on the road. The Warriors bounced back from a 52-point loss to Boston on Sunday to beat the Milwaukee Bucks by 35 last night. The Warrior fans were hoping that their team could knock off the Bulls.

The Bulls, led by DeMar DeRozan and Nikola Vucevic, gave the Warriors more than they could handle. The game was a dogfight until the last few seconds before Chicago pulled ahead for good. The Bulls won 125-122.

The game was a nail-biter. The Warriors got off to a good start in the first quarter. They grabbed an early 13-point lead, 31-18. The Bulls started an 11-0 run by making a three. DeMar DeRozan put four points on the board when he was fouled, making a three-pointer, and the quarter ended with the Warriors ahead 31-25.

DeRozan made the first bucket of the second period to bring the Bulls within four. The Bulls outscored the Warriors 28-28 in the second quarter to finish the first half leading 63-59. DeRozan and Vucevic led the Bulls attack with 18 points each. Klay Thompson was hot in the first half.

Thompson put 16 points on the board for the Warriors. Jonathan Kuninga and Andrew Wiggins each had eight. Draymond Green had seven points, six rebounds, and six assists. The Bulls’ defense put the clamps on Stephen Curry. Curry had just five points.

Neither team could pull away. Green and Brandin Podzienski made baskets to tie the game at 63. Curry made a three to give the Warriors a one-point lead 66-65. The two teams fought tooth and nail. The lead changed hands several times until the Bulls went on a 19-4 run at the end of the third quarter to lead 99-89.

The Warriors were unfazed. They stormed back to take the lead, 108-107. The teams tied at 114-114 and again at 116-116. There were 13 ties and 20 lead changes at this point in the game. Curry had to leave the game with 3:51 left to play.

Curry appeared to have suffered an injury to his leg. Curry went to the locker room and did not return. With 58 seconds left, Green fouled out. The Bull’s DeRozan made it 118-116. Thompson connected from downtown to put the Warriors ahead, 119-118.

DeRozan answered with a bucket, making it a three-point play as he was found. The Warriors then fouled Vucevic. Vucevic made both free throws. Chris Paul made a three to bring the Warriors within a point, 123-122. Unfortunately for the Warriors, time was running out. With just 2.1 seconds left, the Warriors fouled DeRozan. DeRozan made both free throws to end the game.

Game Notes: With the loss, the Warriors are 33-29. They are 14-5 in their last 19 games. Chicago improved to 31-32.

The Warriors could not stop the Bulls’ two top offensive threats, DeRozan and Vucevic. The Bulls had five players in double figures. DeRozan scored 33 points, eight rebounds, and four assists and made three threes in six attempts.

Vucevic’s numbers were similar to DeRozan’s. Vucevic had a double-double with 33 points and 11 rebounds. He also had five assists and connected on three threes in six tries. Coby White added 20, Jevon Carter, 10, and Ayo Dosunmo had 14 for Chicago.

The Bulls shot 53% from the floor and connected on 16 threes. Thompson made five threes, and the Warriors as a team had 11. 

The Warriors had seven players in double figures. Curry finished with 15 but did not score in the fourth quarter. Thompson finished with 25, and Green almost had a triple-double. Green had 11 points, nine rebounds, and 12 assists. Kuninga had 19, Podzienski 11, Moses Moodey 10, and Chris Paul 15. The Warriors shot 45% from the floor and made 11 threes in 42 attempts. 

The Warriors welcome the San Antonio Spurs to the Chase Center on Saturday night. The fans will see the Spurs’ rookie sensation, Victor Wembanyama, in action. Wembanyama is 20 years old and stands seven feet four inches tall. He is averaging almost 21 points a game. The game will start at 5:30 pm.

Warriors get back on win track rout Milwaukee Bucks 125-90 at Chase Center

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Golden State Warriors forward Andrew Wiggins looks to pass the ball against the Milwaukee Bucks forward Giannis Antetokounmpo (34) in the first half at Chase Center in San Francisco on Wed Mar 6, 2024 (AP News photo)

By Jerry Feitelberg

Golden State Warriors, who were trounced by the Boston Celtics last Sunday in Boston, returned home to face the Milwaukee Bucks, the team with the second-best record in the NBA’s Eastern Conference.

The Bucks fired their coach earlier in the season and brought Doc Rivers to right the ship. Things didn’t go well for Milwaukee after Rivers took over. However, the Bucks got their act together and had won six straight after the All-Star break.

The Warriors won three games on the four-game road trip. The only blemish was Sunday’s massacre in Boston. Warriors’ head coach Steve Kerr said the team had to flush the loss down the toilet. The Warriors did just that as they crushed the Bucks 125-90.

The Warriors came to play Wednesday night. The Warriors scored 40 points in the first quarter. Andrew Wiggins returned to the starting lineup after missing four games for personal reasons. Brandin Podzienski also returned to the starting lineup after missing two games with a sore knee.

Stephen Curry and Jonathan Kuminga paced the Warriors’ offense in the first 12 minutes of the game. The Warriors led 40-32 at the end of the quarter.

In the second quarter, the Warriors played well on both ends of the court. Klay Thompson tallied ten points, Gary Payton II, nine, and the Warriors won the quarter 38-26 to finish the first half leading 78-56. Steph Led the Attack with 17. Kuninga was a force on offense as he tallied 16.

The Warriors shot 64% from the floor. They made 12 threes in 19 tries. Milwaukee shot 50% from the floor, but they could not find a way to stop the Warrior offense in the first half. Milwaukee’s only advantage in the first half was at the free-throw line.

The Bucks had 12 free throws and made eight. The Warriors went to the free-throw line just once in the first half. Curry made both free throws.

As NBA fans know, leads can quickly disappear in the second half. The Warriors have been guilty of blowing big leads in the fourth quarter. Milwaukee’s stars Giannis Antetokoumpo and Damian Lillard could get hot and lead the Bucks back into the game.

The Warriors, on the other hand, have owned the third quarter for many years. The Warriors loved to come out and blow away their opponents in the third quarter. If they hoped to win, the Bucks knew they had to stop the Warriors offense and take control of the game.

Milwaukee stopped the Warriors’ offense cold. Milwaukee went on a 19-5 run to close within six points of the lead, 83-77. At this point, Steve Kerr inserted the rookie Trayce Jackson-Davis. Davis turned things around for Golden State.

The Bucks won the quarter 23-15, but Jackson Davis was excellent on both ends of the court. Davis blocked two of Giannis’ shots, and TJD knocked down six points. The Warriors led by nine, 93-82, after three periods of play.

Milwaukee felt they had figured out how to get back into the game. They were wrong. The Warriors’ second unit of Moses Moody, Davis, Podzienski, Curry, and Draymond Green stopped the Bucks’ offense. The Warriors won the final stanza 32-9 to propel the Warriors to a very important bounce-back win 125-90.

Game Notes: With the win, the Warriors are 33-28. They have won 14 of the last 18 games. Milwaukee falls to 41-22. The Warriors split the season series with the Bucks.

The Warriors shot 56% from the floor, made 19 threes in 39 tries, and had 37 assists on 51 made baskets. On defense, the Warriors outrebounded the bigger Bucks 57-45. The Warriors had ten steals and a season-high 13 blocks. 

Curry paced the offense with 29 points, eight rebounds, and six assists. Curry also made six threes. Jonathan Kuminga added 20 points. Klay Thompson finished with ten. Green had 12 points, six boards, and six assists. Green connected on two threes in the fourth quarter. Jackson-Davis had quite a night. The 24-year-old rookie from Indiana tallied 15 points and six rebounds in 18 minutes of playing time.

Antetokounmpo led the Bucks with 24 points. Lillard had 20. Lillard made five threes, and he is now tied with Reggie Miller for fourth place in the NBA making threes. 

The Warriors must put this game behind them as they face the Chicago Bulls on Thursday night at the Chase Center. The game will start at 7 p.m.

Warriors lead wire-to-wire beat New York Knicks 110-99

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Golden State Warriors guard Stephen Curry (30) led with 31 points against the New York Knicks at Madison Square Garden in New York Thu Feb 29, 2024 (AP News photo)

By Jerry Feitelberg

The Golden State Warriors were in the Big Apple Thursday night to face the New York Knickerbockers. Both teams were without key players. Andrew Wiggins of the Warriors was unavailable for Thursday’s game due to “personal matters.”

As he did last year, the Warriors’ head coach has yet to determine when Wiggins will return. The Knicks Justin Randle and OG Anunoby could not play as they are recovering from injuries. The Knicks, without the two stars, are 4-6 over the last ten games. The Warriors inserted Moses Moody into the lineup in place of Wiggins.

The Knicks, under coach Tom Thibodeau, are an excellent rebounding team and rank in the top five defensive squads in the NBA. The Warriors were 20th in defense without Draymond Green. Since Green’s return, the Warriors are among the top five defensive teams in the NBA.

The Warriors have won 11 of the last 14 games. Veteran point guard Chris Paul will be playing his second game since returning from a broken hand. The Warriors led wire-to-wire to win, 110-99.

The Warriors went on a 14-0 run to start the game. Stephen Curry and Jonathan Kuninga were the players that got the offense going in the first quarter. Curry knocked down three threes, and Kuninga had the other five points to give the Warriors the early 14-0 advantage.

The Knicks woke from their slumber and started putting points on the board. The Warriors offense cooled down, but the Warriors still finished the first quarter leading 31-19. Curry tallied 11 points and had seven rebounds in the period.

The seven rebounds tied a career-high for rebounds in any quarter. New York got their offense going and won the second quarter 27-24. Josh Hart, Jalen Brunson, and former Warriors Donte DiVincenzo paced the Knicks’ attack. The Warriors finished the first half leading 55-46. Curry had a double-double with 17 points and 11 rebounds. 

The Knicks knew they had to outscore the Warriors in the third quarter. They tried hard, but the Warriors refused to bend. The Warriors got help from Green, who did not score a point in the first half, Klay Thompson, and Jonathan Kuminga. The Warriors outscored the Knicks by one point, 25-24, and increased the lead to ten, 80-70, at the end of the third quarter.

The Knicks knew a ten-point deficit starting the fourth quarter could be overcome. The Knicks were hoping to go on a run and close the gap. The Warriors have blown several leads in the fourth quarter this season. The Knicks’ defense had to stop the Warriors.

The Warriors had to ensure they did not blow another fourth-quarter lead. The Knicks went on a 13-2 run to trail by four, 89-85. Kuminga and Brandin Podziemski made a bucket to up the lead to 94-85. Curry hit his seventh three of the night to give the Warriors a ten-point advantage, 100-90. Curry made another three to 103-92. The Warriors had time on their side. The Knicks could not catch the Warriors. The Warriors won the game 110-99. 

Game Notes: The Warriors are now 31-27 with the win. They are 12-3 in their last 15 games. They have won the first two games of the four-game road trip. The Knicks fall to 35-25. The Knicks have lost seven of the last 11 games.

Curry loves playing in New York. Curry’s numbers were 31 points, 11 rebounds, and made eight threes. Curry has had 82 games with eight or more threes in his career. No other player comes close to Curry’s record.

Curry was +20 on the court. Jonathan Kuminga added 25 points. Green finished with seven points, ten boards, and six assists. Green was +19. Thompson, coming off the bench, knocked down 16. Chris Paul had 11. The Warriors had 58 points in the paint.

The Warrior’s defense held the Knicks to 36.9% from the floor. The Warriors committed 11 turnovers. 

Jalen Brunson led New York with 27, DiVincenzo had 16, and Josh Hart 16. Miles McBride added 14, and Jericho Sims added 10.

The Warriors flew to Toronto immediately after the game. The Warriors will play the Raptors on Friday night. The Raptors blew out the Warriors at the Chase Center earlier in the season. The Warriors want to get the win Friday night to even the season’s series. The game will start at 4:30 pm.

Warriors start the four-game road trip with a win over Wizards 123-112

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The Golden State Warriors guard Chris Paul (3) is defended by the Washington Wizards guard Jared Butler (center) and forward Marvin Bagley III in the first half at the Capital One Center in Washington DC on Tue Feb 27, 2024 (AP News photo)

By Jerry Feitelberg

The Golden State Warriors beat the Washington Wizards 123-112 at the Capital One Center in Washington DC to start a four-game road trip. The Warriors have now won 11 of the last 14 games played. Warriors head coach, Steve Kerr, changed his lineup.

Andrew Wiggins had the night off. Kerr inserted Moses Moody into the starting lineup. The Warriors welcomed back point guard Chris Paul. Paul broke his left hand on January 5th in a game against the Detroit Pistons.

The Warriors were favored to beat the Wizards as Washington is having a dismal season. The Wizards traded for Jordan Poole. Poole was removed from the starting lineup as he was not performing the way he did when he was with the Warriors. But, as the fans know, anything can happen in a basketball game. The Warriors had to be careful not to let the Wizards pull off the upset. The Wizards played well in the first half and trailed by two 60-58 at halftime.

In the first quarter, the Wizards got off to a good start. At one point in that quarter, the Wizards led by nine, 25-16. The Warriors Klay Thompson made a couple of buckets to get the Warriors closer to the lead. Washington finished the quarter leading 25-23.

The Warriors outscored the Wizards 37-33 in the second quarter. Moses Moody connected on two three-pointers to help the Warriors get their offense going. Jonathan Kuminga and Gary Payton II also played well during this period. The Warriors finished the half leading by two, 60-58. There was one amazing stat that was hard to believe. Stephen Curry did not score a single point in the first half.

The Warriors won the third quarter 38-17. Curry found his shot. Curry and Klay each made a couple of threes to lead the Warriors to a 23-point lead, 98-75, at the end of the period. The Wizards, to their credit, fought back in the final stanza. The Warriors have blown several big leads in the fourth quarter this year. The Wizards won the quarter 37-25. The 23-point deficit was too much to overcome. Washington closed the gap to ten, 120-110, but time ran out, and the Warriors won 123-112.

Game Notes: The Warriors improved to 30-27 with the win. The Wizards lost their 12th in a row and are 9-49. Thompson paced the Warrior attack with 25 points. Thompson made six threes in nine tries. Stephen Curry, scoreless in the first half, knocked down eighteen in the second.

Curry connected three times from downtown. Moses Moody finished with 12, Brandin Podzienski had seven points, four rebounds, and four assists. Kuminga had a big night with 21 points, six boards, and five assists.

Payton II tallied 13 points, and Chris Paul added nine points and six assists. The Warriors shot 50% from the floor and, as a team, knocked down 21 threes. They had 39 assists on 47 made field goals. The Warriors outrebounded the Wizards 54-45. 

The Wizards had six players in double figures. Kyle Kuzma led Washington with 27. Marvin Bagley III had 20 points and nine rebounds. Corey Kispert had 20, Landry Shamet had 16, and Tyus Jones had 14. Former Warriors Jordan Poole scored 12, coming off the bench.

The Warriors bench outscored the Wizards bench 59-15. That was the difference in the game.

The Warriors travel to New York City to play the Knicks at Madison Square Garden Thursday night. The game will start at 4 pm.

It was ugly but Warriors hold on beat Hornets 97-84; Golden State coach Kerr signs for 2 more yrs at $35 million

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The Charlotte Hornets guard Vasilije Micic (left) passes the ball against Golden State Warriors guard Stephen Curry (30) in the first half at the Chase Center in San Francisco on Fri Feb 23, 2024 (AP News photo)

By Jerry Feitelberg

The Golden State Warriors (29-26) welcomed the Charlotte Hornets (14-42) to the Chase Center Friday night. The Hornets entered the game with a record of 14-41. Yet, the Hornets had won four straight. Charlotte’s star point guard, LaMelo Ball, was sidelined with an injury and would not play.

Everyone thought the Warriors would win in a cakewalk. The Hornets, coached by Steve Clifford, had other thoughts. The players knew they had to find a way to disrupt the Warriors’ game plan. Both teams played poorly in the first half.

The Warriors scored just 43 points in the first 24 minutes of play. The Warriors turned the ball over 14 times. The Warriors defense put the clamps on the Hornet offense. Charlotte tallied 29 points in the half. The Warriors got the offense going in the third quarter and held on to win, 97-84.

As mentioned above, the first two-quarters of the game were ugly. Neither team could get into a rhythm. The leading scorer for the Warriors was Gary Payton II. GP2 had eight points to lead the team. Stephen Curry had seven, and Klay Thompson, Andrew Wiggins, and Jonathan Kuminga each had six. Miles Bridges had ten for the Hornets in the first half. 

The Warriors offense came to life in the third quarter. They won the quarter30-23 and finished the period with the lead, 73-52. The Warriors led by 20, 80-60 after Thompson hit a three. The Warriors refused to let the Hornets get too close.

Curry hit a three to put the Warriors up 89-71. Head coach Steve Kerr took his regulars out of the game. The Hornets offense closed the gap to ten, 92-82. The time left in the game was a minute and 42 seconds. There was a remote possibility that the Hornets could make up the ten-point deficit.

That didn’t happen, as Moses Moody made a three with 1:05 left. Lester Quinones set off tempers when he made a basket with 12 seconds left. The Hornets’ Miles Bridges and Grant Williams were furious that Quinones took the shot.

The Warriors were going to win. The unwritten rule was to run out the clock. Quinones was hit with two technical fouls and was ejected from the game. Bridges and Williams each had a technical foul called on them. Williams was ejected. There was no scoring in the final few seconds of the game after the altercation.

Game Notes: It was an ugly win, but it is still a win. The Warriors improved to 29-26. Golden State has won ten of the last 12 games played. The Hornets fell to 14-42. 

The Warriors had five players in double figures. Curry led the club with 15 points. Curry made three threes in eight tries. Wiggins had 14, Thompson and Brandin Podziemski each had 13, and Payton II added 12. The Warriors shot 42% from the floor and made 13 threes.

The Hornets also had five players with double-figures. Bridges led Charlotte with 19 points and 11 boards. Nick Richards and Brandon Miller each had 11. Tre Mann and Grant Williams had ten.

Kerr signed a two year extension worth $35 million, the contract is listed as a record annual value for a head coach. Kerr is in his tenth year with Golden State as his current contract expires at the end of this season. Kerr is breathing some relief as he was focused on this season but now that the contract issues have been completed he can focus on coaching and not on his future with the team.

The Warriors finish the homestand against the Denver Nuggets on Sunday at 4 pm.