Category: NBA

Warriors Fall Short From Downtown Losing to the Timberwolves 114-110; Minnesota ties season high of 3’s with 21

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Minnesota Timberwolves center Naz Ried (11) celebrates his three pointer against the Golden State Warriors in the first half at the Target Center in Minneapolis on Sun Mar 24, 2024 (AP News photo)

By Barbara Mason

The Golden State Warriors (36-33) played a terrific game for three quarters but fell short in the fourth losing to the Minnesota Timberwolves (48-22) 114-110. Despite playing without Karl-Anthony Towns Minnesota played very well after struggling through the first quarter.

It was the triples that the Timberwolves hit that sealed the win for Minnesota. They hit 21 in this game while the Warriors only had 14. Stephen Curry finished with 31 points but it was not enough to get past the Timberwolves.

Sunday evening the Warriors traveled to Minnesota to take on the Timberwolves. The Warriors have lost both games they have played against the Timberwolves this season and that was back in November. Both games were close.

On November 12 they lost by six points 116-110 and days later Golden State lost by the score of 104-101. The Warriors were having their struggles in late 2023 and they have turned things around in 2024 so all bets are off in this one.

The Timberwolves are having struggles of their own missing Karl-Anthony Towns who is dealing with a torn left knee meniscus. He had surgery to repair the knee in early March and will be re-evaluated in a month. This pushes his return into the month of April when the regular season will be winding down.

Towns has been a huge part of the Timberwolves rise into the top tier of the Western Conference and he has been missed. The Warriors had a great opportunity to handle this team without Towns as well as their solid starting roster along with their improved play.

Golden State needed this win trailing the Lakers by a game and a half and the Rockets on their heels a mere game and a half behind them but Golden State just couldn’t over come the Timberwolves in a four point 114-110 loss.

Game recap: The Warriors won the first quarter leading after the first 12 minutes 27-18 and by the half had forced 13 Minnesota turnovers. The Timberwolves got going in the second quarter winning the quarter by a single point 28-27.

Golden State took a 54-46 lead into the locker room at the half. Minnesota began to heat up in the first half hitting nine triples and out-rebounding the Warriors 24 to 18. Ball protection was huge for the Warriors who only had five turnovers so far in the game as well as hitting 46% from the field.

The Warriors 12-2 run in the first half and containing Rudy Gobert was a huge part of their halftime lead. Curry, Jonathan Kuminga and Andrew Wiggins were all in double digits; Curry leading the pack with 14 points.

The Warriors had as much as a dozen point lead in the first half but the Timberwolves were hanging tight in the third quarter but still trailing 60-57. Golden State had their work cut out for them against the number one defensive team in the league.

Minnesota is also fourth in the league from downtown pushing their triple count to 12 in this game. The Warriors established a seven point lead 74-67 with 2:55 left in the third quarter. Minnesota got to within one point in the closing minute but Golden State pushed their lead back out to 81-78.

A single triple by the Timberwolves would tie up this game and so far the Warriors had been outscored by 18 points from the 3-point line. Curry had scored 22 points through three quarters. Golden State could not afford a mental lapse as this game went into the fourth quarter.

The Warriors started the fourth quarter with a couple of turnovers that the Timberwolves turned into two more triples taking a 84-81 lead. With ten minutes left in the game it was tied at 84 in another close game between the two conference foes.

The tide began to turn with under seven minutes left in the game. Minnesota continued to hit triples, 19 in total, taking a 97-89 lead. With 6 1/2 minutes left in the game Curry came back on the court instantly hitting a triple and cutting the Minnesota lead to 97-92.

With under six minutes left on the clock triples began to fly from both sides. With 41.0 seconds left in the game Minnesota had a five point lead 111-106.

The Warriors cut the Timberwolves lead to 111-110 with 14.9 seconds and the ball in Minnesota’s possession. This game was going down to the wire. Klay Thompson got a decent look at 11.2 and missed and that was the game 114-110 in favor of Minnesota.

The Minnesota Timberwolves dictated the pace of the game after the first quarter and their shooting from downtown was a huge part of tonight’s win for Minnesota. The Timberwolves had won all three games against Golden State this season. Anthony Edwards made some key shots in the game finishing with 23 points. They are now 25-9 at home this season.

It does not get any easier for the Warriors as they head into Florida to take on the Miami Heat Tuesday night followed by a matchup with the Orlando Magic Wednesday night. Both of these games are critical and both of them will be a tough call. Tipoff for the first of the two games Tuesday night is scheduled for 4:30 PM. 12 games are left in the season and it is going to be a photo finish.

Kings Win Cliff-Hanger Beating Orlando 109-107

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The Sacramento Kings guard Malik Monk (0) takes the ball against the Orlando Magic center Mortiz Wagner (21) in the first half at the Kia Center in Orlando on Sat Mar 23, 2024 (AP News photo)

By Barbara Mason

After losing a game to the worst team in the NBA Thursday night, the Sacramento Kings (40-29) went on to beat one of the best Saturday night. The Kings beat the Orlando Magic (42-28) in a crazy game where there were insane lead changes numbers-wise. The game went right down to the wire with the Kings coming out on top 109-107. This was not a game for the faint of heart. It was a great and badly needed win for the team.

Saturday evening the Kings traveled to Orlando for a matchup with the Magic. The Kings lost a shocker to the Washington Wizards Thursday night 109-102. Whether they took the Wizards lightly which hardly seems the case or they were just off their game, they cannot afford losses this late in the season. These two teams are evenly matched so fans were in store for a real barn burner.

The first half was close from start to finish. As the two teams headed to the locker room after the first two quarters the Magic had a slim lead 56-54. After the first 12 minutes, the Kings had a 27-26 lead. The Magic went on to win the second quarter 30-27 and thus the halftime lead 56-54. This game had proven to be as close as expected.

The Kings fought for the third quarter winning it 27-25 and this game was knotted at 81. The Kings made a move in the fourth quarter. Keegan Murray was having a monster game making 6 of 7 from beyond the arc.

De’Aaron Fox was needed to provide his fourth quarter magic as the clock wound down to under four minutes with Sacramento leading 99-94. The Kings had hit 15 triples so far in this game.

The Magic had pulled to within three points several times during the final minutes of this game with Sacramento fighting to hang onto the lead. With 21.2 seconds left on the clock, the Magic had taken the lead 107-106.

Orlando’s Jalen Suggs fouled Fox who hit both free throws and Sacramento took back the lead 108-107 with two seconds left in the game. Orlando went on to foul Keon Ellis who hit one of two free throw and that was the game. The Kings had won a nail-biter 109-107 against one of the best in the NBA.

Fox had the high for the Kings with 31 points and Domantas Sabonis had yet another double double, his 66th this season. This one was his 53rd in a row tying Kevin Love for the longest streak. Sabonis finished with 21 points. Murray had a terrific game with 22 points going 6 of 7 from downtown. Ellis continues to play lights out with 19 points improving with every game.

“Heck of a win for our guys. They put pressure on the rim and they had a huge size advantage. I thought our group showed resilience and we rebounded well,” said Head Coach Mike Brown after the game. “When you are not shooting well, you have to defend. We won the possession game in a tough environment,” he said.

Monday night the Kings return home to Golden 1 Center to take on the Philadelphia 76ers. Tipoff for that game is scheduled for 7:00 PM.

Pacers Offensive Effort Spurs Win Over Golden State 123-111

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Golden State Warriors forward Trayce Jackson Davis (32) drives against the Indiana Pacers forward Pascal Siakam (43) in the first half at Chase Center in San Francisco on Fri Mar 22, 2024 (AP News photo)

By Barbara Mason

The Golden State Warriors (36-32) had a lot of trouble containing the Indiana Pacers (39-31) Tyrese Haliburton as they dropped their Friday night game at Chase 123-111. Haliburton dropped two triples, one a buzzer-beater to end the second quarter and another buzzer-beater to end the third. The Pacers took off in the fourth quarter and there was no looking back for Indiana. The final was 123-111.

Game recap: At the end of the first quarter this game was tied up at 38. It was indeed a hotly contested quarter of basketball. The Warriors guard Stephen Curry had a great quarter finishing with 13 points and his first quarter play pointed to a hot night for the superstar.

Both teams were shooting at 50% from beyond the arc and both teams were protecting the ball with only three turnovers between the two teams. Both teams displayed some amazing defense as well as offense.

Several minutes into the second quarter the Warriors had created some separation leading 48-41. If the first quarter was any indication the Pacers would push any lead that Golden State took.

The Warriors came up with some solid defense and continued to push their lead. Mid-way through the quarter Golden State continued to hold onto a ten point lead 58-48 and their defense was really disrupting the Pacers offense.

The Warriors had established a 12 point lead that the Pacers erased in the final two minutes of the quarter. With a one-point lead 64-63 the Warriors were hanging on with under two minutes until the half.

The Warriors had pushed the lead out to 67-63 with seconds left in the first half of play. The Pacers were not done as Haliburton hit a three-point buzzer beater to end the half with Golden State leading 67-66. The Pacers had erased a 12 point Warrior lead and Golden State would have their work cut out for them in the second half of play.

Both Curry and Klay Thompson (off the bench) finished the first half with 15 points apiece. They were both on course for some great numbers. Golden State was controlling the pace but needed more stops.

Most of the stats for these two teams were as close as they could possibly be. The Warriors would try to continue to contain Haliburton in the second half. The Pacers had three of their starters in double digits with Pascal Siakim leading the pack scoring 13 points with Haliburton close behind with 11 points. The second half of the game would have all the makings of an intense battle between two playoff bound teams.

The tables turned in the third quarter as the Pacers took their largest lead of the game 77-72 at 7:23. The Warriors pushed back as they attempted to take back the momentum trailing by a single point 77-76.

Every time the Warriors challenged in the second half, the Pacers came right back and more often then not they came back with a triple. The Pacers had flipped this game by 22 points leading at 4:55, 89-79 in a strong Indiana turnaround.

The Warriors offense had slumped as the Pacers continued to extend their lead to 91-79 with under four minutes left in the quarter. Indiana came unleashed leading 100-85 with under a minutes left in the third as the Golden State offense continued to struggle.

The incomparable Haliburton ended the third quarter the way he ended the second; with a buzzer beating triple. Indiana had built a 102-88 lead going into the fourth quarter.

The Warriors looked disconnected and you could see the frustration etched on Curry’s face as the fourth quarter got underway. The Warriors had to make a push now or never because the Pacers were not letting down, they refused to go away.

The Warriors were 15 of 41 from downtown and that makes winning awful tough. At 6:37 the Warriors were in the bonus and they had a real shot provided they got some offense going. The Pacers offense faltered and with the Warriors flying all over the court hitting shots, the door had opened up for Golden State.

They had cut the Pacer lead to 116-109 with 3:07 left in this wild game. The Warriors had to be near perfect for the remainder of the game. They were not. Golden State fought so hard in the final quarter but it was the horrendous third quarter that did them. The final was 123-111. To make this even worse Chris Paul got ejected near the end of the game in a case of clear frustration. The Pacers were now 5-0 at Chase.

The hot start for Curry cooled in the second half. He had 13 points in the first quarter but only 12 points for the remainder of the game. The Warriors were 14 of 46 from downtown and Golden State continues to struggle at home. Golden State will be on the road for seven of their next eight games. The good news is that they have been a lot better on the road this year than they have been at home.

Game notes: Friday night the Warriors lost the Pacers to Chase Center in an east meets west matchup. The Pacers are currently in sixth place in the Eastern Conference and the Warriors are fighting to stay in playoff position hanging onto tenth place.

The Warriors ultimate goal is of course to move up in the standings. The Pacers are 43% three point shooters and Golden State needed solid defense to guard against that. It was very well hotly contested game but in the end the Warriors lost by 12 points. The Warriors have now lost five of their last ten games.

After this disappointing loss the Warriors head out on the road. Sunday the Warriors will take on the Minnesota Timberwolves looking for a more productive offensive effort. This will be another challenging game taking on the power house Timberwolves. Tipoff for this game is scheduled for 4:00 PM.

Sacramento Kings podcast with Jeremiah Salmonson: Kings battle 4th place Magic Saturday night

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Sacramento Kings center Alex Len (25) defends the Washington Wizards forward Anthony Gill (right) in the first half at the Capital One Center in Washington on Thu Mar 21, 2024 (AP News photo)

Sacramento Kings podcast with Jeremiah:
#1 You know what they say in the NBA anything could happen on any given night and at the Capital One Center the Washington Wizards who have one of the worst records in the NBA defeated the Sacramento Kings 109-102.

#2 The win ended the Wizards five game losing streak and Kyle Kuzma led Washington with 31 points. Kuzma hit 13 of 22 shots and had six rebounds this after missing the last two games.

#3 For the Sacramento Kings De’Aaron Fox had 25 points and Malik Monk had 20 points and the Kings now are 16-8 when playing back to back games.

#4 Domantas Sabonis is still on a hot streak with 52 straight double double games. Sabonis had 14 points and 14 rebounds.

#5 The Kings tip off against the Orlando Magic on Saturday at 4:00pm PDT in Orlando. The Magic are 42-28 and are fourth in the Eastern Conference. The Magic are going well with a five game winning streak.

Join Jeremiah Salmonson for the Kings podcasts on Fridays at wwww.sportsradioservice.com

Kings Lose Critical Game To The Wizards 109-102

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The Washington Wizards forward Kyle Kuzma (left) is on a mission driving on the Sacramento Kings guard Keon Ellis to score at the Capital One Center in Washington DC on Thu Mar 21, 2024 (AP News photo)

By Barbara Mason

On Thursday night Sacramento Kings (40-29) suffered a stunning loss to the Washington Wizards (12-58) who are currently the worst team in the NBA 109-102 at the Capital One Center. The Kings had a miserable first and third quarter. Their offense was sadly lacking in those quarters.

De’Aaron Fox finished with 25 points, 13 of those points coming in the fourth quarter but it was just not enough to get past the Wizards. Sacramento had squandered a golden opportunity with the Pelicans losing to the Magic.

Game recap: The rest did not do much for the Sacramento starters coming out stale in the opening quarter. They did not hit a single three in the first quarter. The Wizards led after the first twelve minutes 35-27.

Sacramento was unable to hit a three until 8:33 in the second quarter and the Wizards continued to build their lead. With under six minutes left in the half, the Wizards had a 54-36 lead.

The Kings needed some offense and they were not getting very much continually turning the ball over. Sacramento was missing Trey Lyles, and Kevin Huerter. In the late minutes of the second quarter the Kings were on the move with 4:20 left in the half.

They cut the Washington lead from 20 to 14. A single digit lead at halftime were in the Kings sights making this game manageable. Sacramento was missing short the entire first half and they also unable to make very many stops.

The Kings began to get those stops and they also got some great offense storming back on a 18-0 run tying up the game at 54. At the half the Wizards led 56-54. Sacramento had turned a 20 point deficit to two points and we had a brand new game.

The Kings had stopped the bleeding in the later minutes of the second quarter. De’Aaron Fox and Malik Monk each had 10 points in the half. Domantas Sabonis, Keegan Murray and Harrison Barnes were on the verge of double digits and Sacramento had gotten this game under control.

Sacramento had a rough start in the third quarter falling behind by 15 points. The Wizards are the worst third quarter team in the league but the Kings were not taking advantage of this deficiency and Head Coach Mike Brown was forced to take an early timeout.

The Kings struggled throughout the third quarter and continued to search for answers in this nightmarish quarter trailing 84-76. The Wizards won the third quarter 28-22 but the Kings had cut the 15 point lead, in an 8-0 run, to 8 points. They were finally looking like they were back on track going into the fourth quarter.

As in the second quarter, the Kings got going in the fourth quarter going on a 15-0 sprint now trailing by a single point 84-83. In the fourth quarter Fox who is third in the league in scoring would do his best to carry his team on his back and the Kings would need him to finish off Washington.

With 7:00 left in the game Fox had already hit three three’s and two shots inside the paint. The Kings just could not get enough stops and their offense fell short in a stunning 109-102 loss to the Washington Wizards.

The Wizards had won their 12th game this season. The Kings had squandered a golden opportunity with the Pelicans losing to the Magic. Sacramento had the opportunity to pull to within one game of fifth place.

Fox finished with 25 points and off the bench Monk had 20 points. Sacramento shot 28% from beyond the arc and when the Kings are struggling from downtown they have a rough time winning.

Post game notes: The Kings traveled to Washington Thursday night to take on the Wizards after trouncing the Toronto Raptors Wednesday night to the tune of 123-89. How would they come out in this game after the amazing effort last night? The Kings starters were able to rest in the fourth quarter of that game looking ahead to Wednesday’s game.

Saturday night the Kings continue on the road traveling to Orlando taking on the Magic in a very tough matchup. They have to put this unexpected loss behind them and get back on track. This game is scheduled for 4:00 PM.

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.

Kings Demolish Raptors 123-89; Sabonis chalks up his 24th triple-double

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On defense the Sacramento Kings Domantas Sabonis (10) and forward Keegan Murray (13) puts the squeeze on the Toronto Raptors forward Bruce Brown (11) in the first half at Scotiabank Arena in Toronto on Wed Mar 20, 2024 (AP News photo)

By Barbara Mason

The Sacramento Kings (40-28) lost to the Toronto Raptors (23-46) back in January but they were not having any of that in their game Wednesday night. They came in with a purpose and they played the Raptors off the court. This game was finished after the third quarter with the Kings finishing off Toronto in the fourth the final 123-89.

Game recap: The first quarter was a close one with the Kings leading after the first 12 minutes 32-27. Sacramento busted this game wide open in the second quarter leading at the half 68-45. They won the second quarter by a landslide 36-18. De’Aaron Fox already had 15 points and the incomparable Domantas Sabonis already had 12 rebounds.

Sacramento took their first half energy into the third quarter winning the quarter 31-20 and the Kings had a 99-65 lead going into the fourth quarter. Sabonis had his 24th triple double and another double double his 63rd this season.

The Raptors had their best quarter of the game but it was over after the third quarter. Toronto tied the Kings in the fourth quarter 24-24 and a lot of credit to the Raptors for continuing to fight.

The Kings did let their foot off the pedal mid-way through the quarter but pulled it back together to finish off the Raptors. Sacramento had tied up their series at one apiece. Whether it was the memory of the game back in January or where the season is right now, the Kings came into this game with a real agenda and they never backed down.

This was a monster game for the Kings. Fox had the team high of 20 points. Sabonis had 17 rebounds, 10 assists and 13 points for another triple double. Malik Monk and Chris Duarte had a terrific game off the bench. Monk with 17 and Duarte with 14. This was their second win in a row and it was an important win as this season approaches the finish line. Every game is critical right now.

Post game notes: Wednesday night the Kings took on the Raptors on the road at Scotiabank Arena in Toronto. The Kings came into this game after beating the Memphis Grizzlies in Sacramento on Monday night. They sit in sixth place tied with the Mavericks and the Phoenix Suns are a half a game behind both of them. The Raptors beat the Kings back in January in their only meeting this season. Toronto is really struggling this season and couldn’t break their seven game losing streak extending to eight games with the loss to the Kings.

The Kings continue on the road taking on the Washington Wizards Thursday night. This team right now is committed to winning and that is what the Kings are seeing right now. Hopefully they will take this energy into their next game in Washington. The good news for the Kings is that they were able to rest their starters in the fourth quarter of this game. Tipoff is scheduled for 4:00 PM at the Capital One Center.

Golden State Warriors podcast with David Zizmor: Warriors to host Grizzlies tonight at Chase Center

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The New York Knicks guard Mile McBride goes up for the shot against Golden State Warriors forward Trayce Jackson-Davis and guard Chris Paul (3) in the first half at Chase Center in San Francisco on Mon Mar 18, 2024 (AP News photo)

On the Golden State Warriors with David:

#1 The New York Knicks picked up their fourth straight win over the Golden State Warriors 119-112 at Chase Center in San Francisco. The Knicks are fourth in the Eastern Conference and this was their fifth win over the Warriors in their last 19 meetings.

#2 Dave what can you say about Jalen Brunson who been leading the Knicks in scoring on Monday night he capped the team with 34 points and teammate Miles McBride had a career high of 29 points finishing second in scoring.

#3 The Warriors host the Memphis Grizzlies Wednesday night. The Grizzlies are 13th in the Western Conference at 23-46. Memphis has lost three in a row and will be looking to ending their losing streak. The Warriors have the home floor in this one can they rebound from the loss to the Knicks tonight?

Join David Zizmor for the Warriors podcasts each Wednesday at http://www.sportsradioservice.com

Sacramento Kings podcast with Tony Renteria: Kings and Raptors tip off tonight at Scotiabank in Toronto

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Sacramento Kings Domantas Sabonis forward (center) catches himself in double coverage with the Memphis Grizzlies Jarren Jackson Jr forward (left) and guard DeJon Jearreau (right) at Golden 1 Center in Sacramento on Mon Mar 18, 2024 (AP News photo)

On the Sacramento Kings podcast with Tony R:

#1 Malik Monk was the leading scorer with 28 points on Monday night at Golden 1 Center in Sacramento in the Sacramento Kings overtime contest against the visiting Memphis Grizzlies in the ten point 121-111 win.

#2 In the overtime stanza Monk as hot again scoring 12 of 28 points. Monk just had a rhythm going and was hitting his shot.

#3 What can you say about Domantas Sabonis he’s having a Hall of Fame season he chalked up his league leading 50th double double. Sabonas no doubt a key player in the Kings offensive scheme of things.

#4 Head coach Mike Brown was proud of the job that Sabonis did against the Grizzlies saying all you have to do is put the ball in his hands and Sabonis will do the rest.

#5 Wednesday night the Kings are in Toronto facing the Raptors. The Raptors are 23-45, 12th place in the Eastern Conference, they have struggled severely they are on a seven game losing streak. How do you see this match up between the Kings and Raptors tip at 4:30pm PT.

Join Tony for the Kings podcasts Tuesdays at http://www.sportsradioservice.com

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.