Category: NBA

Unlikely Win For Warriors In A Brilliant Finish Golden State-124 San Antonio 120

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Golden State Warriors guard Stephen Curry, left, celebrates a score with teammate guard Jordan Poole (3) against the San Antonio Spurs at the AT&T Center in San Antonio on Tue Feb 1, 2022 (AP News photo)

Unlikely Win For Warriors In A Brilliant Finish Golden State-124 San Antonio 120

By Barbara Mason

Following a tough win on Monday night against the Houston Rockets the Warriors (39-13) took on the San Antonio Spurs (19-33) Tuesday night. Both Stephen Curry and Klay Thompson would be sidelined for this game.

Dejounte Murray leads San Antonio averaging 19.4 points and 9 assists per game. The Warriors were short-handed in this game. Nemanja Bjelica (back), Curry (toe), Andre Iguodala (hip), Otto Porter Jr. (foot) and Andrew Wiggins (knee) all expected to be out.

San Antonio will no doubt be looking to take advantage of a depleted Warrior team. The Spurs have the lowest turnover rate in the league and they also have the most bench points per game. In the Warriors favor San Antonio allows the third-most second chance points in the league.

The starters for Golden State in this game were Juan Toscano-Anderson, Kevon Looney, Damien Lee, Jordan Poole and Moses Moody. The Warriors will be looking for some assistance from Jonathan Kuminga, Chris Chiozza and Gary Payton !! off the bench.

The Spurs led after one quarter 30-36. The Warriors continued to hang around although empty possessions were hurting Golden State in the second quarter. They trailed by ten points in the quarter but kept chipping away at the Spurs lead trailing by four points late in the second quarter.

San Antonio was having an excellent game through the first 24 minutes and the Warriors were happy with an eight point deficit at the half 69-61. Looney already had ten rebounds with a great defensive showing and Moses Moody had 14 points, a career high for him.

Three minutes into the third quarter the Warriors were within one point of the Spurs 73-72 but could not take the lead. While the Warriors were having a good shooting night, the Spurs were having an even better shooting game. San Antonio led after three 104-89.

After trailing by seventeen points the Warriors had shaved the Spurs lead to two points. Kuminga and Chiozza were largely responsible for the turnaround. With two and a half minutes left in the game the score was knotted at 114. Damien Lee made a shot from downtown to giver the Warriors the lead 117-114 and they never looked back.

In a most unlikely win the Golden State Warriors roared from behind to take the fourth quarter 35-16 and win this game 124-120. “I feel comfortable shooting the ball from anywhere,” said Poole after the game. He had a clutch shot from downtown in the closing seconds of the game to secure the win.

Damien Lee finished off San Antonio with two free throws to end the game. All the young players had a great game tonight. Poole finished with 31, Lee with 21 and Moody with 20. Kuminga was great off the bench with 19 points. Everyone on the floor tonight was a huge part of this win.

This team continues to amaze and beat all odds. They will head home for a game with the Sacramento Kings Thursday night. Tipoff is scheduled for 7:00 PM.

Knicks take out Kings 116-96 at MSG for Sac’s 7th straight loss

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The Sacramento Kings forward Louis King (23) and guard Buddy Hield (24) almost looks as if to say what’s the use as the New York Knicks RJ Barrett (9) lays one in at Madison Square Garden on Mon Jan 31, 2022 (AP News photo)

By Jessica Kwong

The Sacramento Kings (18-34) ended their five-game road trip at Madison Square Garden with their seventh straight loss, 116-96 to the New York Knicks (24-27) on Monday night.

Sacramento was without their best player, De’Aaron Fox, due to a sore ankle and trailed most of the game.

New York led for the last 43 minutes of the game and by double digits during the whole second half. Going into the final quarter, the Knicks had an 18-point lead.

The Kings’ leading scorers in the blowout loss were Tyrese Haliburton with 21 points and eight assists, and Davion Mitchell with 18 points.

Fox has been out since January 19 and missed four games. Still, Kings coach Alvin Gentry said the team is not worried about the point guard’s absence in the long term.

“I think that he is feeling much better,” Gentry said. “But until he feels that everything is there and that he can make the cuts laterally, we aren’t going to put him out there right now. But I am not concerned.”

Meanwhile, the Knicks snapped their three-game losing streak. Alec Burks and Evan Fournier scored 21 points each, and Julius Randle contributed 17 points and nine rebounds.

Gentry, who coached Randle with the New Orleans Pelicans, had some words about him

“I think he’s a better player,” Gentry said. “And he was a very good player for us. He was outstanding for us, really. I think he’s slowed himself down a little bit. Now I know he’s struggling a bit right now but it’s never because of effort.

Gentry added that Randle hasn’t shot the ball as well as in the past.

“But the way he attacks the basket, and his ability to handle the ball in the open court and create plays are all things he was starting to do when he was in New Orleans and I think he’s much, much better at it right now,” he said.

The Kings (18-34) return home to host the Brooklyn Nets on Wednesday. Tip-off is at 7pm.

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Curry takes liberties against Rockets defense scores 40 in 122-108 win

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Golden State Warriors guard Stephen Curry (30) pushes the ball up court against Houston Rockets center Christian Wood during first half action at the Toyota Center in Houston on Mon Jan 31, 2022 (AP News photo)

Warriors Add To Rockets Woes Winning 122-108

By Barbara Mason

Monday evening the Warriors (38-13) were on the road in Houston taking on the Rockets (14-36). This is the third meeting between these two teams this season.

The Rockets have lost ten home games in a row while the Warriors have won five games in a row. After completing a seven game home stand the Warriors will be challenged by the Rockets in their house. Golden State aimed for their sixth win in a row and got with a 122-108 victory.

With Andre Iguodala. Nemanja Bjelica, Otto Porter and Draymond Green all out for this game Moses Moody got the start. He would go on to finish with 11 points. Kevon Looney had picked up two quick fouls in the first quarter but that was the only disappointment for Golden State to start this game. They led 10-0 through the first five minutes.

The Rockets came storming back to take the lead 15-14 with five minutes left in the quarter. Having lost so many home games this Rocket team was definitely in desperation mode having not a whole lot to lose leading after 12 minutes 25-23. Looney already had seven rebounds but with two fouls he sat out the latter minutes of the quarter.

At the half the Warriors led 61-52. Looney came back in the game and registered nine rebounds. Once again Andrew Wiggins had a great half scoring 17 points with Stephen Curry shooting for ten points. The Rockets top man Christian Wood had 17 in the first half.

After three quarters the Warriors had distanced themselves from Houston leading 87-78. The Rockets refused to go away continually cutting into the Warriors lead.

Curry had a huge fourth quarter going nuclear with four from downtown. The Rockets had pulled to within four points in the final quarter and then Curry happened. He scored 21 points in the fourth quarter with five rebounds and nine assists.

Curry finished with 40 points. The 21 points was just another record for Curry. Right now he is simply trying to break his own records. There is no limit to what this guy is going to continue to do this season.

Wiggins shot for 23 points and Thompson and Moody had double digits. “Without Draymond it looks a lot different I’m just trying to keep things simple,” said Curry talking about their new defensive look right now.

It is onto San Antonio to play the Spurs tomorrow night. Tipoff is scheduled for 5:30.

Golden State Warriors podcast with Barbara Mason: Rockets vs. Warriors tip off at Chase tonight; Houston has never recovered after losing Harden

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The Brooklyn Nets James Harden is excited for his team on Sat Jan 29, 2022 against the Golden State Warriors and his old team the Houston Rockets have never recovered since his departure. The Warriors host the Rockets Mon Jan 31, 2022 at the Chase Center in San Francisco (AP News photo)

On the Warriors podcast with Barbara:

#1 Barbara, tell us about what the Brooklyn Nets (29-20) Kyrie Irving told the Golden State Warriors (37-13) Klay Thompson Saturday night saying that Stephen Curry has “completely revolutionized the game.”

#2 Irving has much respect for Golden State for what they’ve accomplished saying, “Going against each other has been great, but I think studying each other has been even more of a special bond,”

#3 Anytime the Nets and Warriors match up and you could expect a tough, exciting game full of great defense and offense and the game Saturday night was no different in a four point win for the Warriors 110-106.

#4 Barbara, talk about Andrew Wiggins who been getting off some great shots, has been getting a lot of looks and during Curry’s short slump has made up the difference on some of the scoring.

#5 The Houston Rockets (14-35) are going Houston on tonight the Rockets have lost seven of their last 11 games losing their last game on Friday night to the Portland Trailblazers (21-28) 125-110. Houston has really not been the organization that they were since James Harden left for Brooklyn.

Join Barbara for the Warriors podcasts each Monday at http://www.sportsradioservice.com

Embiid leads 76ers in 103-101 comeback win over Kings

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The Philadelphia 76ers Joel Embiid can do it all on his back passes the ball between Sacramento Kings defenders Damian Jones (30) and Buddy Hield (24) at the Wells Fargo Center in Philadelphia as the Kings go down to their sixth straight loss on Sat Jan 29, 2022 (AP News photo)

by Marko Ukalovic

PHILADELPHIA — It was another second half collapse by Cap City.

Joel Embiid scored 23 of his 36 points in the second half as he sparked the Philadelphia 76ers to a 103-101 comeback win over the Sacramento Kings on Saturday evening at the Wells Fargo Center.

Sacramento has lost six games in a row and anchor the basement of the Pacific Division. Philadelpha has caught fire as they have won four games in a row and five of their last six. They have overtaken the Brooklyn Nets for first place in the Atlantic Division with a one-game lead.

Harrison Barnes started out hot with 10 points in the first quarter. Tobias Harris paced the 76ers with nine points as the Kings led 31-27 after the opening quarter.

The Kings took advantage of eight turnovers by the 76ers in the first quarter.

Sacramento (18-33) took control of the second quarter with a 15-3 run. They led 61-46 with 1:38 left in the quarter before the home team closed out the quarter with the final four points as the Kings cruised into halftime up by 11 points.

The Kings had their biggest lead at 70-55 in the third quarter as the outscored the 76ers 15-4 in the first five minutes.

Philadelphia (30-19) slowly chipped away as they outscored Sacramento 26-13 to end the third quarter as they cut the Kings lead to 83-81 to start the fourth quarter.

The 76ers went on a 9-0 run in less than two minutes to grab their first lead of the game when Andre Drummond’s layup gave Philly an 88-87 lead with 8:56 left in the fourth quarter.

Embiid scored seven points in a two-minute stretch to give the 76ers their biggest lead at 103-93 with 2:28 remaining.

Sacramento’s Tyrese Haliburton scored eight of his game high 38 points in the final two minutes to bring the Kings within two points. A five-second violation by Philadelphia with 11.1 second left gave the Kings a final chance to win or send the game into overtime.

However, the 76ers defense stood its ground defensively as they forced Barnes into a desperation three-point attempt at the buzzer that missed way off the mark to seal the Kings fate.

Philadelphia outscored Sacramento 53-40 in the second half.

Barnes finished with 16 points and Donovan Mitchell chipped in 15 points for Sacramento. The Kings bench didn’t help their cause with only 16 points total for the game.

Harris finished with 16 points and Tyrese Maxey chipped in 15.

GAME NOTES: Sacramento finished 12-for-35 from beyond the arc. Philadelphia was 12-for-30.

UP NEXT: Sacramento finishes their five-game road trip on Monday 1/31 against the New York Knicks at 4:30pm at Madison Square Garden.

Warriors Beat Nets In a Thriller 110-106; No KD to face old teammates

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The Brooklyn Nets Kyrie Irving (left) can still share a joke after losing to the Golden State Warriors and Klay Thompson (right) at the Chase Center in San Francisco on Sat Jan 29, 2022 (AP News photo)

 Warriors Beat Nets In a Thriller 110-106

By Barbara Mason

Saturday night on prime TV the Golden State Warriors (37-13) took on the Brooklyn Nets (29-20). The Nets will be shorthanded playing without Kevin Durant and James Harden. The Warriors will continue without the brilliant defense of Draymond Green although the team has really displayed some pretty impressive defense in his absence.

The main threats that the Warriors will face from the Nets will be team leader Patty Mills and Kyrie Irving. Big Red Blake Griffin will be a weapon off the bench for the nets. Andrew Wiggins and Jordan Poole off the bench have been having a great home-stand and with the leadership of Stephen Curry will give Brooklyn a fight. The Warriors would hold off Brooklyn 110-106 at the Chase Center in San Francisco.

After trailing by six points to start the first quarter the Warriors got going leading after 12 minutes 31-20. The Nets were able to not only tie the game in the second quarter but take a four points lead. Wiggins and Poole were having a great first half and the Warriors were able to take back the lead, ahead by seven after two quarters of basketball 54-47.

Wiggins finished the first half with 17 points and was three of five from downtown. Poole had ten points off the bench with a couple from downtown himself. Mills and Irving each had 11 points in the half.

The Warriors led by as much as 19 points in the third quarter. As the quarter came to an end the Nets went on a 20-4 run and trailed Golden State by a single basket 78-76 and the Warriors had a real fight on their hands. “They need to make better decisions” said Head Coach Steve Kerr in reference to the shots that Curry and Klay Thompson had been taking in this game.

The Nets were not going away and the Warriors needed to contain Irving who had 25 points through three quarters. Mid-way through the fourth quarter the game was all tied up at 93. The Warriors had ten turnovers in the game a few of them in the critical fourth quarter.

This hotly contested game would go down to the wire. With 9.0 left on the clock the Warriors had the lead 107-106 and the ball. Thompson would shoot two free throws to end the Nets hopes for a win.

This was an amazing performance by both teams. Irving had 32 points and Mills with 24 points. This was another loss for Brooklyn in a string of losses. For Golden State it was another impressive last minute win.

The Warriors cooled off mid-way through the fourth quarter but finished it off Warrior-style. Wiggins finished the game with 24 points for the high score. Curry had 19 points heating up in the second half and both Porter and Thompson had 16 points. After struggling through three quarters Curry and Thompson turned it on when it really counted knocking off the Nets.

This finishes off the Warriors home-stand. They will head out on the road to take on the Houston Rockets Monday night. Tipoff is scheduled for 5:00 PM.

Sacramento Kings podcast with Morris Phillips: Kings enter 76ers lair in Philadelphia and try to end five game skid

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Los Angeles Lakers’ Anthony Davis, left, tried to get one over against the Philadelphia 76ers’ Joel Embiid, right, at the Wells Fargo Center on Thu Jan 27, 2022. The Sixers will host the Sacramento Kings on Sat Jan 29, 2022 in Philadelphia (AP News photo)

On the Sacramento Kings podcast with Morris Phillips for Jeremiah Salmonson:

#1 It’s been a tough road for the Sacramento Kings (18-32) as they face off with the Philadelphia 76ers (29-19) on Saturday night at the Wells Fargo Center in Philadelphia. The Kings have lost five straight games. I know it’s a tough task but Kings head coach Alvin Gentry can only try and motivate the team to try and get this one Saturday to end the streak?

#2 The two last games for the Kings were barnburners for the Boston Celtics and Atlanta Hawks. The Kings lost to the Celtics 125-75 on Tuesday and another loss to the Hawks on Wednesday night 121-104 neither were close games.

#3 On Wednesday night it was announced before the game in Atlanta that Kings guard Terence Davis had injured his right wrist on Tuesday night against the Celtics at TD Garden when he fell hard on the wrist, Davis has been listed as out with the injury indefinitely.

#4 On offense for the Kings on Wednesday night Harrison Barnes had 28 points and Davion Mitchell had 20 points were the two leading scorers but it just wasn’t enough to catch the Hawks.

#5 The Kings now tip off with the Philadelphia 76ers on Saturday night. The 76ers no doubt a worthy opponent have won seven of their last ten games and defeated the Lakers last night 105-87. The Sixers Joel Embiid was the top scorer with 26 points do you see the Kings having their hands full on Saturday night?

Morris Phillips was filling in for Jeremiah who took the day off join Jeremiah Fridays for all the Kings podcasts at http://www.sportsradioservice.com

Warriors close out game to top Wolves 124-115

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Golden State Warriors guard Stephen Curry (30) shoots between Minnesota Timberwolves forward Anthony Edwards (1) and forward Jarred Vanderbilt (8) at the Chase Center in San Francisco on Thu Jan 26, 2022 (AP News photo)

Warriors Close Out Game to Top Wolves 124-115

By Barbara Mason

Thursday evening the Warriors (36-13) took on the red-hot Minnesota Timberwolves (24-24) at Chase Center. If the season ended today the Wolves would be the seventh seed and the Warriors the second. The Warriors cooled off the Timberwolves with a 124-115 win.

The first quarter had all the makings of a very competitive game with both teams hitting threes from the get go. Both Stephen Curry, Klay Thompson and Otto Porter were hitting from outside. The Warriors were seven of 8 from downtown with under three minutes left in the quarter.

Andrew Wiggins joined in the fun going two of two from beyond the arc. While inside shooting was not falling for Golden State, it was raining three’s for the Warriors. Minnesota has forced the most turnovers in the league and Golden State experienced this first hand in this game. After 12 minutes this game was tied at 29.

The second quarter was a wild one. Minnesota was winning from the free throw line but the Warriors were winning from three point range. Minnesota had brought their A game tonight. Ball movement was insane from Golden State in the second quarter, even more so than usual.

The Wolves led at the half 61-57. Minnesota had five fouls but the Warriors had 15 which was troubling. In foul trouble for Golden State was Kevon Looney with four and Porter with three.

Karl-Anthony Towns was on fire for the Timberwolves scoring 23 in the first half and he got the Warriors in foul trouble. Wiggins and Thompson were the only Warriors in double digits. The Warriors would have their work cut out for them in the second half.

They would have to slow Karl Anthony; this would be key in the final quarters of this game. Golden State would need to clog up the paint; this is where Minnesota was hurting the Warriors. Golden State was shooting 48% and the Timberwolves 46% after two quarters.

As the third quarter came to an end the Warriors were really rolling. They contained Anthony clogging up the lane forcing Minnesota to take more three’s that were not falling. Minnesota had 6 from downtown while the Warriors had 16. Golden State stopped fouling taking a 95-81 lead into the fourth quarter.

The Timberwolves cut the Warriors lead in half before Golden State took back control leading by nine points with seven minutes left in the game. This game was going down to the wire with Towns heating back up and giving the Warriors all sorts of trouble.

The splash brothers came to the rescue giving the Warriors a 115-104 lead with four minutes left in the game. Although the Timberwolves made a run in the early fourth quarter Golden State would close out the game 124-115.

Curry was back with a monster game shooting for 29 points. Thompson had another high game since coming back with 23 points. “We know we haven’t been playing our best the past three weeks, but we dug ourselves out of it,” said Curry after the game.

This matchup had all the intensity of a playoff game giving us all a glimpse of what we can expect in the post- season.

Saturday night the Warriors will be playing the Brooklyn Nets at Chase Center. Tipoff is scheduled for 5:30 PM.

Sacramento Kings podcast with Tony Renteria: Davis out with wrist injury for Kings; Kings head to Philadelphia against Sixers Saturday

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Detroit Pistons guard Cory Joseph (18) drives to the basket as Sacramento Kings guard Terence Davis (3) on Wed Jan 19th at the Golden One Center in Sacramento. The Kings announced on Wed Jan 26, 2022 that Davis will be out indefinitely with right wrist injury (AP News photo)

On the Kings podcast with Tony R:

#1 Big loss for the Sacramento Kings (18-32) as they announced after Wednesday night’s game against the Atlanta Hawks that Kings guard Terence Davis will be out indefinitely with a injured right wrist. Kings head coach Alvin Gentry says the Kings medical staff are exploring all kinds of treatments to get Davis back in the line up.

#2 It was in Boston when Davis took a hard fall test revealed that Davis had damaged tendons and they’ll miss Davis out of the line up whose been averaging 10 points for the Kings.

#3 Tony the Kings are on a five game losing streak after loses to such teams as the Houston Rockets, Detroit Pistons, Milwaukee Bucks, Boston Celtics, and Atlanta Hawks, tough teams with nothing else for the Kings to do but to play them and see what the outcome will be.

#4 Former King Bogdan Bogdanovic scored 18 points and came off a knee injury and  Onyeka Okongwu also came off the bench and scored 18 points after the Hawks had a slow start against the Kings on Wednesday night to surpass and get a substantial win.

#5 The Kings face the Philadelphia 76ers (28-19) on Sat Jan 29th at the Wells Fargo Center in Philadelphia. The Sixers have won seven out of their last ten games and the Kings are trying to snap a five game losing streak. It’s a tall order for the Kings as they face the 76ers on Saturday.

Join Tony Renteria each Thursday for the Kings podcast at http://www.sportsradioservice.com

Kings Drop Fifth In a Row To Atlanta 121-104

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Atlanta Hawks guard Bogdan Bogdanovic (13) drives against Sacramento Kings guard Buddy Hield (24) at State Farm Arena in Atlanta on Wed Jan 26, 2022 (AP News photo)

Kings Drop Fifth In a Row To Atlanta 121-104

By Barbara Mason

Wednesday night the Sacramento Kings (18-32) took on the Hawks (22-25) in Atlanta at State Farm Arena. Lately the Hawks have making some noise winning four games in a row and are just a single game behind the Washington Wizards for the 10th seed in the Eastern Conference.

The Kings come into this game after getting pummeled by the Boston Celtics Tuesday night by the score of 128-75. Losing by 53 points this was the second worst loss in any NBA season by any team.

Between the loss that the Kings just suffered and the high level that the Hawks are playing at especially on defense this could be a huge challenge for the Kings. They need to put the Celtic game behind them and look forward to Wednesday’s game, it was not to be for the Kings who lost again for their fifth straight game this time to the Hawks 121-104.

The Kings had a nice first quarter leading 33-21 but it all came crashing down on them in the second quarter. The twelve point lead they held in the first quarter was gobbled up by the ferocious shooting of the Hawks.

That coupled with shutting down the Kings offense gave the Hawks the lead at half-time 67-50. The Hawks won the second quarter 46-17. The Kings had led by twelve after one quarter and then trailed the Hawks by 29 points in the second quarter. That was a huge point swing and the second half looked especially ominous for Sacramento.

The Kings were still without De”Aaron Fox but despite that, the Kings were being outplayed by Atlanta. Sacramento is going downhill at a rapid clip and there doesn’t really seem to be much they can do about it. They could be headed for their fifth loss in a row tonight.

The Kings got close in the third quarter but with such a steep deficit it was a tall order to try and catch the Hawks. Sacramento trailed 94-74 going into the fourth quarter.

The Kings had a very competitive second half but it is so tough to reside behind the eight ball that was the first half.

Harrison Barnes led the Kings with 28 points. The Hawks leading scorers were Bogdan Bogdanovic and Onyeka Okongwu both with 18 points.

This fifth loss for the Kings continues their downward spiral that seems to have no end. They desperately need De”Aaron Fox back on the court and hopefully his return will be sooner rather than later.

Saturday night the Kings are back at it taking on the 76ers in Philadelphia. Tipoff is scheduled for 4:30 PM.