BOTTOM LINE: San Antonio will try to keep its six-game home win streak intact when the Spurs play Los Angeles.
The Spurs are 26-13 against Western Conference opponents. San Antonio ranks third in the Western Conference with 16.5 fast break points per game led by Stephon Castle averaging 2.9.
The Clippers are 19-18 in Western Conference play. Los Angeles ranks fourth in the Western Conference shooting 36.1% from 3-point range.
The 118.2 points per game the Spurs average are 6.2 more points than the Clippers give up (112.0). The Clippers are shooting 48.1% from the field, 3.1% higher than the 45.0% the Spurs' opponents have shot this season.
TOP PERFORMERS: Victor Wembanyama is averaging 23.7 points, 11.2 rebounds and three blocks for the Spurs. Devin Vassell is averaging 3.2 made 3-pointers over the last 10 games.
Kris Dunn is averaging eight points, 3.6 assists and 1.5 steals for the Clippers. Kawhi Leonard is averaging 25.8 points and 6.3 rebounds while shooting 49.7% over the past 10 games.
LAST 10 GAMES: Spurs: 9-1, averaging 121.3 points, 45.9 rebounds, 31.2 assists, 8.5 steals and 7.2 blocks per game while shooting 49.8% from the field. Their opponents have averaged 106.8 points per game.
Clippers: 6-4, averaging 113.0 points, 42.1 rebounds, 23.6 assists, 9.6 steals and 5.5 blocks per game while shooting 48.9% from the field. Their opponents have averaged 106.9 points.
INJURIES: Spurs: David Jones Garcia: out for season (ankle), Harrison Barnes: day to day (ankle), Mason Plumlee: day to day (reconditioning).
Clippers: Yanic Konan Niederhauser: out for season (foot), Bradley Beal: out for season (hip), John Collins: out (arm), Darius Garland: out (toe).
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The Associated Press created this story using technology provided by Data Skrive and data from Sportradar.
DENVER, CO – MARCH 5: LeBron James #23 of the Los Angeles Lakers drives to the basket during the game against the Denver Nuggets on March 5, 2026 at Ball...
DENVER — Even with both teams eventually down multiple key players, Thursday night at Ball Arena was the Lakers’ biggest test against a potential Western Conference playoff team in nearly a month.
And they learned more about what it’ll take to compete with the other top teams in the West, falling to the Nuggets 120-113 to kick off a stretch in which the quality of competition to picking up.
The Lakers never led on Thursday, with the Nuggets pulling off the wire-to-wire win in a game they led by 15 points.
Nikola Jokić and Austin Reaves watching Luka Dončić after he was hit in the face by the ball. AP
Luka Doncic led the Lakers with 27 points, 11 rebounds, seven assists and four steals, making multiple shots to keep his team in the game.
But the Lakers were outscored 8-2 in the final two minutes to leave Denver with the loss.
Austin Reaves finished with 16 points, seven assists and five rebounds.
Jaxson Hayes stepped up after starting center Deandre Ayton left the game with left knee soreness, with Hayes finishing with 19 points on 8-of-10 shooting and five rebounds in 28 minutes.
The Nuggets jumped out to a 15-2 lead with the Lakers lacking energy early.
They outscored the Nuggets 110-106 over the final 43 ½ minutes after Ayton subbed out with the knee injury.
“We talked about the sense of urgency, the importance of this game pregame, we talked about our physicality, took us a little bit of time to do that,” coach JJ Redick said. “It’s difficult against good teams to spot them…13 points. Our group showed a lot of resiliency, did some really good things.”
Three-time MVP Nikola Jokic led the Nuggets with 28 points, 13 assists and 12 rebounds. Jamal Murray added 28 points and seven assists.
LeBron James goes up for a layup against the Nuggets. NBAE via Getty Images
What it means
The Lakers will stay at the No. 6 spot in the West, moving further behind the No. 5 Nuggets (39-24).
They dropped to 37-25 on the season.
Turning point
When Reaves split a pair of free throws with 2:05 remaining.
The Lakers would’ve tied the game at 112 apiece if Reaves made both, but they trailed 112-111 after he missed the second attempt, with Jokic making a driving hook shot on the Nuggets’ ensuing possession to start a 6-0 run.
Nikola Jokic drives to the basket against the Lakers. NBAE via Getty Images
MVP: Nikola Jokic
Even on a night he didn’t play the best, Jokic still had a triple-double and shot 10 of 15 from the field.
Stat of the game: 15
That’s how many technical fouls Doncic has been assessed this season after picking up another technical in the second quarter on Thursday.
After going almost 1 ½ months across 14 games without a technical foul, Doncic picked up his 14th during Tuesday’s home win over the Pelicans.
Luka Doncic received another technical foul, raising his season total to 15. AP
“He’s aware that he’s close,” coach JJ Redick said ahead of Thursday’s game. “And I think he’s… He’s trying.”
If Doncic is assessed another technical for his 16th of the season, he’ll have to serve a one-game suspension by league rule.
Up next
The Lakers will close out the back-to-back set when they return to Southern California on Friday.
They’ll host the Pacers at Crypto.com Arena to kick off a five-game homestand.
SACRAMENTO, Calif. (AP) — Zion Williamson had 23 points on 10-for-14 shooting, Trey Murphy III added 21 points and the New Orelans Pelicans beat the NBA-worst Sacramento Kings 133-123 on Thursday night.
Saddiq Bey shot 6 for 11 (3 for 5 from 3-point range) and 5 of 6 from the free-throw line for 20 points for the Pelicans, who had lost two in a row after a four-game win streak.
Williamson added nine rebounds and five assists.
Precious Achiuwa had 29 points and 12 rebounds and Russell Westbrook had 19 points and 10 assists for the Kings, who fell to 14-50 overall and lost their ninth in a row at home. They have lost three in a row and are 2-4 following a franchise-worst 16-game losing streak.
The Pelicans entered halftime up 67-61. The Pelicans took a 14-point lead in the third quarter thanks to a 15-0 scoring run.
The Pelicans made 12 3-pointers compared to the Kings eight.
All-Star point guard Dejounte Murray (return to competition reconditioning) did not play for the first game of a back-to-back (New Orleans plays at Phoenix on Friday).
Kings forward Keegan Murray missed his fourth straight game because of ankle injury.
DeMar DeRozan kad 15 points to move into 19th place on the NBA’s career scoring leaders list.
SAN ANTONIO, TX - MARCH 5: De'Aaron Fox #4 of the San Antonio Spurs and Victor Wembanyama #1 of the San Antonio Spurs high five during the game against the Detroit Pistons on March 5, 2026 at the Frost Bank Center in San Antonio, Texas. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, user is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2026 NBAE (Photos by Michael Gonzales/NBAE via Getty Images) | NBAE via Getty Images
The San Antonio Spurs returned home and set the tone early, never letting it slip away. From the opening minutes Thursday night, San Antonio played like a team determined to stay one step ahead of the Detroit Pistons and that’s exactly where the Spurs remained for all 48 minutes in a confident 121-106 victory.
The game never had the feel of a dramatic comeback or a frantic finish. Instead, it was a steady, methodical performance from a Spurs team that controlled the rhythm from the start and leaned on its brightest star when it mattered most. That star, of course, was Victor Wembanyama.
The 7-foot-4 phenom turned in another dominant night, piling up 38 points, 16 rebounds, and five blocks while anchoring San Antonio on both ends of the floor. Whether it was altering shots in the paint, grabbing rebounds over multiple defenders, or finishing highlight plays in transition, Wembanyama once again looked like the most impactful player on the court. And the rest of the team followed his lead.
“Very pleased with the level of contact we played with,” Spurs Head Coach Mitch Johnson said. “To be able to match Detroit’s physically while trying to impose your will and playing your brand of basketball, I thought we did that.”
San Antonio came out firing in the first quarter, quickly establishing the pace of the game. Crisp ball movement and aggressive defense helped them build an early cushion, forcing Detroit to spend the rest of the night chasing the scoreboard. While Wembanyama was the centerpiece, the Spurs’ supporting cast ensured the offense never stalled. De’Aaron Fox sliced through the Pistons’ defense repeatedly, finishing with 29 points (scoring 22 in the first half) and bringing a constant burst of speed to the backcourt. Stephon Castle quietly orchestrated the offense with 11 points and 12 assists, consistently finding teammates in scoring positions.
“We have a team full of guys that create their own shot,” Fox said. “I just see how the game goes, and tonight I came out aggressive. Vic was great for us. Dev didn’t shoot the ball a lot, Steph didn’t shoot the ball a lot. That’s a quality team win for us from start to finish.”
Detroit had moments when it looked ready to make things interesting.
Behind the playmaking of Cade Cunningham, the Pistons briefly trimmed what had been a 20-plus point deficit late in the third quarter. With Wembanyama resting, Detroit managed to push the margin into single digits, giving the game its only hint of suspense. But the Spurs never lost their composure.
“They [Detroit] get a lot of credit for that [3rd quarter]. I thought we missed some shots… The NBA game is a long game. But I’m very happy with everyone who played a part tonight. I thought we did a really good job of staying with it and getting to our spots.”
When Wembanyama returned, San Antonio immediately regained their footing and took full control. One sequence in the fourth quarter summed up the night: Wembanyama rejected a Pistons shot at the rim, sprinted the floor, and finished an alley-oop moments later to ignite the crowd and push the lead comfortably back into double digits.
From there, the Spurs simply closed the door.
Detroit continued to fight, but San Antonio’s balanced scoring and interior defense kept the Pistons from mounting any real comeback. By the final buzzer, the Spurs had secured another convincing win, one that reflected a team growing more into a dangerous contender as the season moves forward.
For San Antonio, the formula looked familiar: control the pace, move the ball, defend the paint, and let Wembanyama take over when needed.
“Any game between top seeds should be impressive,” Wembanayama said. “For us it was super fun and it wouldn’t have been fun if we didn’t set the tone for the game. I think we led for 48 [minutes]. I don’t know if it was impressive, but it was fun.”
Thursday night, that combination proved more than enough.
Game Notes
San Antonio scored 19 bench points but on this night, the second unit didn’t need to carry the scoring load. It is nice to have such a deep bench that can turn it on at any moment.
If this is the version of De’Aaron Fox the Spurs will get in the playoffs, they will be the favorites to reach the Western Conference Finals or even the NBA Finals.
DENVER, CO - MARCH 5: Luka Doncic #77 of the Los Angeles Lakers drives to the basket during the game against the Dallas Mavericks on March 5, 2026 at Ball Arena in Denver, Colorado. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and/or using this Photograph, user is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2026 NBAE (Photo by Morgan Engel/NBAE via Getty Images) | NBAE via Getty Images
A game of runs came down to the final minute between the Lakers and Nuggets with Denver edging out a 120-113win.
Trailing by three in the final 90 seconds of the game, Marcus Smart missed a pair of open threes. Nikola Jokić scored at the rim with 22 seconds left to make it a five-point game and effectively seal the win.
The Lakers got 45 points off the bench and turned 18 Denver turnovers into 26 points. An improved defensive effort in the second half allowed them to make multiple runs, but they could never take the lead.
The game began with Jamal Murray being fouled from behind the arc and converting on all three free throws. He then proceeded to drain two more 3-pointers while the Lakers struggled to generate any offense, allowing Denver’s lead to explode to 11 and forcing LA to call a timeout.
Out of the break, Luka Dončić was fouled and made only one free throw. LeBron James converted on an extremely much-needed layup for LA’s first field goal nearly four minutes into the game.
Other than that, the Lakers continued struggling offensively. LeBron was the highest scorer for LA with four points, followed by Luka with three.
At the 4:57 mark, Los Angeles was down by nine.
Denver was shooting 66% from behind the arc, a massive reason why they were red hot. Tim Hardaway Jr.scored seven points off the bench for Denver.
Late in the period, LeBron made history by passing Kareem Abdul-Jabbar for the most field goals made in NBA history.
Luke Kennard drained a triple to start the second period for the Lakers. The Nuggets then scored five in a row. LA was now down by 15 and still looked as if they didn’t know they were playing a game.
Murray added five more points to his stellar first-half play for a total of 14.
A nice 6-0 scoring surge from Los Angeles, thanks to LeBron, helped cut the deficit to single digits. He was the first Laker in double figures with 10 points.
The scoring run extended to 12-0 to get the visitors all the way back into the game.
Much needed LeBron James takeover. Sensed it was getting away.
Bruce Brown drained a triple to stop the run. The rest of the half was a game of runs back and forth.
LA cut the deficit to three, but the Nuggets responded with a 12-2 run, going back up by double figures. Los Angeles then scored eight straight, but the Nuggets responded and made it a 10-point lead into halftime.
The Lakers trail 64-54 at the half. Luka 15 pts on 6-for-12 shooting; LeBron 12 pts on 5-for-6. DEN: Murray 20 pts 5 ast; Jokic 10 pts 6 reb 6 ast.
The third period started with Jaxson Hayes, starting in place of Ayton who left the game with a knee injury and did not return, dunking off an assist from Luka. Murray then responded with a triple on the other end.
Austin Reaves began to heat up for LA, scoring five in the quarter.
Nikola Jokić was on triple-double watch with 16 points, eight rebounds, and nine assists. Jokić also picked up his fourth foul.
Marcus Smart knocked down his first 3-pointer of the game, which Los Angeles desperately needed. After falling behind by as much as 15 again, LA picked up its offense once more, with Rui Hachimura and Smart draining triples and Reaves adding to his now 13 points.
The deficit was now four with 4:06 left in the quarter.
The Lakers fell behind by 15 early in the 3rd Q, but have rallied back into the ballgame once again, cutting the margin to 4 at 82-78 as Reaves blew past Jokic for a layup to cap a run that forced Denver's TO.
Unfortunately, the game of runs continued as Denver scored seven straight to push it back to a double-digit lead. Luka surged towards the end of the quarter, scoring on two triples that made it a seven-point game.
The final frame began with Hardaway Jr. draining a 3-pointer for the Nuggets. He was also fouled from behind the arc and converted on two of the three free throws. Jaxson Hayes was now at 15 points, after what felt like his 83rd dunk of the night.
LA found themselves on a 9-0 run, making it a five-point game with 7:30 left.
After the run extended to 11 straight points for Los Angeles, Jokić converted on a layup. That stopped a three-minute scoring drought for Denver. Now at the 5:06 mark, the Nuggets were up by seven after a free throw from Christian Braun.
Strawther added to his nice night with four more points. LA started to surge again, scoring nine points.
The Lakers made it a one-point game with a free throw from Austin at the 2:05 mark. The combination of Hachimura, LeBron and Hayes helped jumpstart this surge. LA had two opportunities to tie it, but Smart missed both threes.
With 28 seconds left, it was still a three-point game, and Jokić converted on a layup that made it a five-point game, sealing the win.
Key Player Stats
Luka finished with 27 points, 11 rebounds and seven assists. LeBron ended with 16 points, five rebounds and eight assists. Reaves had 16 points with seven assists and five steals.
Kennard pitched in with eight points off the bench. Jaxson Hayes scored 19 points and five rebounds. Hachimura notched 16 points. Smart ended with nine points.
The Lakers’ next matchup will be against the Indiana Pacers on Friday at 7:30 PM PT.
James drove and hit a layup with just over 4 minutes to go, but he came down hard and immediately grasped at his elbow. The Amazon Prime cameras captured James saying "elbow" and using some NSFW language as he was checked on.
Jaxson Hayes subbed in for James after the ensuing timeout and James received treatment from trainers while sitting on the bench, working his elbow area.
James' basket had cut the Lakers' deficit to 110-106 late. He returned to the court about two minutes later, with 2:05 on the clock and the Lakers trailing 112-111. James was removed for good with 22.3 seconds left
The Nuggets held on to win, 120-113.
ESPN's Dave McMenamin, relaying what Lakers coach JJ Redick said after the contest, reported that James was "icing his left elbow after the game and that he was experiencing enough discomfort that it caused him to be unable to finish the game."
Earlier in the contest, James broke Kareem Abdul-Jabbar's NBA record for most made field goals.
With a baseline fadeaway in the first quarter, LeBron James made his 15,838th basket, passing Kareem Abdul-Jabbar (15,837) for the most field goals made in NBA history.
LeBron, 41 and in his 23rd NBA season, passed Abdul-Jabbar in points scored in February 2023, but because the 3-point shot didn't exist for some of Abdul-Jabbar's career, he made more field goals to get his points (Abdul-Jabbar made one in his 20 NBA seasons, on 18 attempts). LeBron is also the leading scorer in NBA playoff history and is the only player in NBA history to have more than 50,000 points in the regular season and postseason combined.
LeBron also has attempted more field goals than any player in NBA history.
HOUSTON, TEXAS - MARCH 05: Brandin Podziemski #2 of the Golden State Warriors celebrates after a three-point basket in overtime against the Houston Rockets at Toyota Center on March 05, 2026 in Houston, Texas. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Tim Warner/Getty Images) | Getty Images
I’ve said this a few times, but this time I actually mean it: that was the win of the year for the Golden State Warriors. They hit the road to face the 38-22 Houston Rockets, who had won four of their last five games. The Warriors were without Steph Curry, without Jimmy Butler III, without Kristaps Porziņģis, without Moses Moody, without Will Richard, and without Gary Payton II.
Somehow, they won, escaping Texas with a 115-113 overtime win that was as entertaining as it was impressive. And I’ll put my stamp on it now: whenever the season comes to a close, this will be the win of the year.
So let’s grade the 10 players — which included all three two-way contracts and a player who began the year on a two-way contract — who shocked the Rockets. As always, grades are based on my expectations for each player, with a “B” grade representing the average performance for that player.
Note: True-shooting percentage (TS) is a scoring efficiency metric that accounts for threes and free throws. Entering Thursday’s games, league-average TS was 57.9%.
This was far from a perfect game for Santos. He netted a donut from deep, and he had seven turnovers. But my goodness the bad doesn’t come close to the good.
His 41 minutes and 37 seconds of action were the most by a Warriors player in a game this season, and I feel quite comfortable saying that if he played a minute fewer, the Warriors don’t win. Despite playing such a gaudy minutes total, he was still a ball of Dani Rojas-esque energy to the final buzzer … and in fact, in the final seconds when the Warriors were desperately trying to add to a one-point lead, it was Santos who kept De’Anthony Melton’s missed shot alive, extending the possession that would ultimately result in a bucket.
Santos played phenomenal defense, and he had huge plays throughout the night. When the Warriors lost momentum at the end of the first half, Santos made wild driving layups on both ends of a two-for-one to right the ship.
That contract is already looking like a steal, and this is one of the very few times where I give someone a great grade when they have a huge number of turnovers and score with below-average efficiency.
Grade: A- Post-game bonus: Best plus/minus on the team
A vintage Draymond game. He was a dog on defense, and played Kevin Durant about as well as you possible can. He conducted the offense, moving the chess pieces around brilliantly while getting the team into the system. He was an emotional leader, disrupting Houston while motivating his teammates, especially the younger ones.
If anyone wants to argue with this grade, well … I’ll leave you with this.
Grade: A+ Post-game bonus: Led the team in assists.
The old man still got it. And Al, by the off chance that you read this, please don’t take that the wrong way … I ain’t far behind ya.
The Rockets are so young, and so athletic, and so rangy, and Horford didn’t seem to care. His excellent defense played from opening tip to the final buzzer of overtime, while he also steadied the offense with both his passing and his scoring. He had one of the biggest shots of the game, a shot clock-beating three with 45 seconds remaining in regulation, and the Warriors down a point. In overtime and nursing a one-point lead, he took Amen Thompson into the post and drained a jump hook over him with 39 seconds remaining.
Melton had a few tough plays in this game. There were moments where he went through slumps, hence the low efficiency. He committed an awful foul on Durant shooting a three in the waning moments. And he had a brutal turnover late in overtime: on the first possession after returning to the game, and nursing a five-point lead, he turned the ball over at midcourt, leading to an Amen Thompson fastbreak, which ultimately led to a four-point play (Thompson was fouled, missed the second free throw, and the Rockets got the offensive rebound, with Durant draining a three).
But the big plays were big. So big. Everything’s bigger in Texas big. He had 10 points in the first quarter as the Dubs made a statement that they were going to be competitive in the game. And with less than 10 seconds remaining in overtime, and a one-point lead in hand, Melton got into the paint for a good look at the rim. He missed the shot, but after Santos kept the ball alive, Melton was able to get a second chance, and banked it home to give the Warriors a three-point advantage. He also drained a huge three to beat the shot clock with 1:19 left in regulation, and the Warriors trailing by two.
Add in the sensational defense, and it was a very good game for Melton, despite some glaring miscues.
Podziemski was good in this game, and he was impressive. But I’m kind of more caught up on how fun he was. We know what he’s capable of, and when it all comes together, it’s just a joy to witness. He’s so crafty, unique, and funky, yet also tough and in control. He played 40 minutes against a lengthy and athletic defense that is one of the best in the league, and only turned the ball over once … while scoring 26 points and facilitating the offense far more than the assist total would suggest.
He made huge shots, and he made huge hustle plays. It was a treat to watch.
Grade: A+ Post-game bonus: Led the team in points and rebounds.
Williams wasn’t able to make the impact in this game that he made on Monday, but he definitely looks like an NBA player out there. The Warriors have done so well with two-way contracts.
Post didn’t play very well in regulation, but he came in clutch when the team needed it most. With Horford having played the bulk of the fourth quarter, Steve Kerr gave his veteran center a break at the start of overtime, and turned to Post instead. The second-year big held it down impressively, especially on the defensive end of the court. Otherwise, not a great game for him.
The stats are pretty solid, but Spencer had a hard time making an impact in this game, and there’s a reason his minutes total was pretty low. The Rockets, with their length and athleticism, just aren’t a very good matchup for him, and that showed. He couldn’t hold up well on defense, and had a hard time initiating the offense. But he still put up some quality numbers.
Grade: C+ Post-game bonus: Worst plus/minus on the team.
What a moment for Cryer. He entered Thursday having played in three NBA games, and having totaled eight minutes. He’d played exclusively in garbage time, and hadn’t seen any action in the last six weeks. And then on Thursday, in a nationally-televised game, he played 20 minutes, and was part of the five Warriors players who took the court at the start of the overtime period.
He was there partially because Kerr was monitoring Melton’s minutes, and rested him for the final possessions of overtime. But he also earned it, and there was a reason that he was on the court over the more established Spencer. It was the definition of a breakout game for Cryer, and it couldn’t have come at a better time. It would have been fun to have been a fly on the wall of the Warriors locker room after the game, where Cryer surely got his flowers.
Leons played some pretty nice defense, and his length played well against Houston. He couldn’t really make an impression in any other phase of the game, but just holding his own given the situation is a huge win.
Grade: B
Thursday’s inactives: Jimmy Butler III, Seth Curry, Steph Curry, Moses Moody, Gary Payton II, Kristaps Porziņģis, Will Richard
KANSAS CITY, Mo. (AP) — Logyn Greer and Desiree Wooten both scored 10 points in No. 6 seed Colorado's 55-48 win over No. 11 seed Kansas on Thursday night to advance to the quarterfinals of the Big 12 Conference Tournament.
Greer shot 4 for 7 from the field and drained both her attempts from 3-point range from the Buffaloes (21-10). She had six rebounds and four blocks. Wooten added four assists.
Colorado was in foul trouble early, racking up seven fouls in the first quarter. A 9-0 run in the second quarter broke the game open for the Buffaloes and they entered halftime up 26-18. Their defense held Kansas to 36% (19 of 53) from the field and 15% (2 of 13) from 3-point range.
Kansas (19-13) was led in scoring by S'Mya Nichols, who put up 14. Her and Sania Copeland scored the only 3-pointers for the Jayhawks.
Up next
Colorado: Will play No. 3 seed Baylor on Friday. The Lady Bears are ranked No. 20 in the country.
Kansas: Will wait for an invitation into a postseason tournament.
SAN ANTONIO (AP) — Victor Wembanyama had 38 points, 16 rebounds and five blocks and the San Antonio Spurs never trailed in completing a sweep of Detroit, beating the Pistons 121-106 on Thursday night.
De’Aaron Fox had 29 points, and Stephon Castle added 11 points and 12 assists in San Antonio’s first game at home after a nearly a month-long trip.
Cade Cunningham had 26 points and Isaiah Stewart added 18 points in Detroit’s second straight loss. The Pistons, who closed their trip 1-2, remained atop the Eastern Conference at 45-16.
A potential NBA Finals matchup resulted in another double-digit victory for the red-hot Spurs.
San Antonio has won 13 of 14 games, including a 114-103 victory over the Pistons on Feb. 23 in Detroit, and remain second in the West at 45-17.
The Spurs rolled to a 10-2 lead in their first game in San Antonio since Feb. 7. The lead expanded to 17 points in the opening quarter as the Spurs shot 54% on 3-pointers.
Detroit lost Ausur Thompson two minutes into the game when he sprained his right ankle.
San Antonio was 13 for 37 on 3-pointers in shooting 35%.
JAZZ 122, WIZARDS 112
WASHINGTON (AP) — Ace Bailey crashed Trae Young’s Washington debut, scoring 21 of his career-high 32 points in the first half to lift Utah to a victory.
Young, who was traded from Atlanta to Washington in January, had 12 points and six assists while playing just 19 minutes. He’d been sidelined by knee and quadriceps injuries and was on a minutes restriction.
Juju Reese had 18 points and 20 rebounds for the Wizards, who have lost seven straight. Utah snapped a seven-game skid of its own.
Bailey, who was taken by the Jazz with the fifth pick in last year’s draft — one spot ahead of where Washington picked — made seven 3-pointers while surpassing his previous high of 25 points.
Although Young’s appearance in the starting lineup was welcomed by the home crowd, the Wizards trailed by 14 after one quarter. Washington’s Tre Johnson missed a breakaway dunk in the second, and although Young provided his share of highlights — including a pass between the legs of a defender to set up Anthony Gill’s layup in the third — Washington couldn’t come all the way back.
HEAT 126, NETS 110
MIAMI (AP) — Tyler Herro scored 25 points, Bam Adebayo added 21 and Miami beat Brooklyn, sending the Nets to their 10th consecutive loss.
Jaime Jaquez Jr. scored 18 for the Heat (34-29), who have won six of eight and moved five games over .500 for the first time since the first week of December. Pelle Larsson and Kel’el Ware each had 16 points for Miami — with Ware adding 11 rebounds and seven blocked shots.
The Heat also improved to 15-5 on March 5 — or “305 Day,” as it is called in Miami, a nod to the city’s primary area code. No active NBA franchise has a better record on that date.
Michael Porter Jr. scored 27 points for Brooklyn, which also lost at Miami on Tuesday. Noah Clowney scored 17, Nic Claxton had 16 and Ziaire Williams finished with 15 for the Nets. Brooklyn briefly led in the third quarter, but gave up 66 points in the second half.
Miami had a 54-34 edge in bench scoring and shot 53%.
MAGIC 115, MAVERICKS 114
ORLANDO, Fla. (AP) — Wendell Carter Jr. made a go-ahead dunk with 1.4 seconds left, and Orlando beat Dallas to spoil Cooper Flagg’s return from injury.
Flagg’s three-point play with 37.3 seconds left gave Dallas a four-point lead, but Orlando scored the last five points. Jalen Suggs hit a 3-pointer with 32.2 seconds left, and after Flagg missed a jumper, Suggs fed Carter in the paint for the decisive slam.
Tristan da Silva led the Magic with 19 points. Suggs finished with 17 points and seven assists, Paolo Banchero had 16 points and 12 rebounds, and Carter scored 15.
Flagg scored 18 points on 7-of-22 shooting in 26 minutes. The top pick in the NBA draft and the league’s highest-scoring rookie, he had missed the previous eight games with a sprained left foot.
Klay Thompson scored 24 points for the Mavericks, coming off the bench to make seven 3-pointers. Khris Middleton scored 10 of his 19 points in the fourth quarter, but the Mavericks lost for the 15th time in 17 games.
WARRIORS 115, ROCKETS 113, OT
HOUSTON (AP) — Brandon Podziemski had 26 points, De’Anthony Melton added 23 and short-handed Golden State outlasted Houston in overtime.
The Warriors were up three with about 30 seconds left in overtime when Kevin Durant was fouled on a 3-point attempt and made the first two before a miss. Golden State got the rebound and Melton made a tip-in layup with 5.3 seconds left to push the lead to 115-112.
Durant made 1 of 2 free throws after and a foul by the Rockets allowed Golden State to hold on for the win.
Al Horford added 17 points for the Warriors as Stephen Curry sat out for a 12th consecutive game with a knee injury. The Warriors have said that he’s expected to be re-evaluated around Tuesday.
Reed Sheppard led Houston with 30 points, including six 3-pointers, and Durant added 23.
It was tied with less than three minutes left in overtime before Podziemski made a 3-pointer followed by a driving layup to give Golden State a 111-106 lead about a minute later.
Amen Thompson made the first of two free throws before rebounding the miss on the second. Durant hit a 3-pointer to cut the lead to 1. Horford made a basket for Golden State to make it 113-110.
TIMBERWOLVES 115, RAPTORS 107
MINNEAPOLIS (AP) — Anthony Edwards scored 22 points, including an impressive two-handed slam over RJ Barrett, and Minnesota beat Toronto for its fifth straight victory.
In the third quarter, Edwards used a crossover dribble to get free in the lane, elevated well above the rim and slammed it home, flexing and yelling at Barrett afterward. Barrett gave Edwards a little bump as they ran back up the court.
Coming off a 41-point performance in Minnesota’s 117-110 win over Memphis on Tuesday night, Edwards had an efficient night, shooting 8 of 12 from the field and 5 of 8 from 3-point range.
With Houston falling to Golden State in overtime, the Timberwolves (40-23) moved one game ahead of the Rockets for third place in the Western Conference.
Rudy Gobert had 18 points and 12 rebounds, Julius Randle scored 17 and Donte DiVincenzo had 16 points for the Wolves.
Barrett led the Raptors with 25 points and Immanuel Quickley added 18. Toronto has lost four of five but remains fifth in the East.
BULLS 105, SUNS 103
PHOENIX (AP) — Collin Sexton scored 30 points and Chicago held off Phoenix for its second victory in three games following an 11-game losing streak.
Down 12 with under six minutes left, Phoenix pulled to 104-103 on Devin Booker’s 3-pointer with 23 seconds left.
Jalen Green had a chance to give the Suns’ their first lead, but missed a running layup, with Phoenix’s Amir Coffey fouling Nick Richards with 4.1 seconds to go. Richards made the first free throw and missed the second, with a scramble for the rebound running out the clock.
Tre Jones added 21 points and Guerschon Yabusele had 16 for Chicago in the opener of a five-game trip. The Bulls were without Matas Buzelis and Josh Giddey after they injured ankles in a home loss to Oklahoma City on Tuesday night.
Booker led Phoenix with 27 points in his second game after missing four because of a right hip injury. Grayson Allen added 21 points. Green had 12 points on 5-of-20 shooting. He was 1 of 8 from 3-point range.
NUGGETS 120, LAKERS 113
DENVER (AP) — LeBron James broke Kareem Abdul-Jabbar’s record for career field goals in Los Angeles' loss to Denver, with the Nuggets getting 28 points each from All-Stars Jamal Murray and Nikola Jokic.
James injured his left elbow on a layup that pulled Los Angeles to 110-106 with four minutes to go and left the game. He returned with 2:05 left and the Lakers trailing by a point. The Lakers, however, never were able to take the lead as the Nuggets finished off a crucial wire-to-wire win.
James finished with 16 points to go with Luka Doncic’s 27.
Jokic had his 23rd triple-double of the season with 28 points, 12 rebounds and 13 assists to offset nine turnovers and help the Nuggets (39-24) stay a step ahead of the streaking Lakers (37-25) in the logjammed Western Conference.
PELICANS 133, KINGS 123
SACRAMENTO, Calif. (AP) — Zion Williamson had 23 points on 10-for-14 shooting, Trey Murphy III added 21 points and New Orelans beat NBA-worst Sacramento.
Saddiq Bey shot 6 for 11 (3 for 5 from 3-point range) and 5 of 6 from the free-throw line for 20 points for the Pelicans, who had lost two in a row after a four-game win streak.
Williamson added nine rebounds and five assists.
Precious Achiuwa had 29 points and 12 rebounds and Russell Westbrook had 19 points and 10 assists for the Kings, who fell to 14-50 overall and lost their ninth in a row at home. They have lost three in a row and are 2-4 following a franchise-worst 16-game losing streak.
The Pelicans entered halftime up 67-61. The Pelicans took a 14-point lead in the third quarter thanks to a 15-0 scoring run.
The Pelicans made 12 3-pointers compared to the Kings eight.
PHOENIX (AP) — Collin Sexton scored 30 points and the Chicago Bulls held off the Phoenix Suns 105-103 on Thursday night for their second victory in three games following an 11-game losing streak.
Down 12 with under six minutes left, Phoenix pulled to 104-103 on Devin Booker's 3-pointer with 23 seconds left.
Jalen Green had a chance to give the Suns' their first lead, but missed a running layup, with Phoenix's Amir Coffey fouling Nick Richards with 4.1 seconds to go. Richards made the first free throw and missed the second, with a scramble for the rebound running out the clock.
Tre Jones added 21 points and Guerschon Yabusele had 16 for Chicago in the opener of a five-game trip. The Bulls were without Matas Buzelis and Josh Giddey after they injured ankles in a home loss to Oklahoma City on Tuesday night.
Booker led Phoenix with 27 points in his second game after missing four because of a right hip injury. Grayson Allen added 21 points. Green had 12 points on 5-of-20 shooting. He was 1 of 8 from 3-point range.
Seventh in the West, Phoenix had won two straight. The Suns are without Dillon Brooks because of a fractured left hand.
PHOENIX, ARIZONA - MARCH 05: Leonard Miller #11 of the Chicago Bulls and Oso Ighodaro #11 of the Phoenix Suns reach for a loose ball during the first half of the NBA game at Mortgage Matchup Center on March 05, 2026 in Phoenix, Arizona. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, user is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Christian Petersen/Getty Images) | Getty Images
This might be the worst loss of the season, considering the circumstances. Chicago was down eight players and had lost 12 of their last 13 games entering this contest.
The Phoenix Suns operated with the panicked urgency of a college student starting a midnight term paper at 11:00 PM. Unfortunately for them, they got close to submitting it on time, but procrastination early on is what cost them the game in the final moments.
It was an ugly game until the very end. Collin Sexton took over and dropped 30 points, and the young guys were running wild, which is fitting for a team named the Bulls. Tre Jones had 21 points on 9-15 shooting. Credit to Chicago for playing hard, but it is unacceptable for this type of game to happen in the first of a back-to-back.
Chicago was without a great deal of key players, including Josh Giddey and Matas Buzelis, who were questionable entering the day.
Devin Booker poured in 27 points, and Grayson Allen chipped in 21. Outside of that duo, the offense was just not there. They made a late run, but fell short.
Game Flow
First Half
The Suns got off to a slow start. Chicago jumped ahead to a 9-2 lead in the opening minutes after stagnant offense and easy buckets for the Bulls. That led to a frustrated Jordan Ott timeout with 8:13 remaining in the quarter.
A beautiful (ATO) after-timeout play was drawn up by Ott and executed to perfection to free up Jalen Green for a three-point connection.
We had early Khaman Maluach minutes! He checked about halfway through the quarter. He snatched two rebounds in his first minute on the court.
Cold shooting and lazy defense from the Suns led to a 20-9 Chicago lead and another Suns timeout.
The lineup of Maluach, Fleming, Dunn, Allen, and Gillespie brought some needed life back into the Suns, at least defensively. One of the lone highlights of the quarter was this rookie connection.
The offense continued to struggle. It was an ugly quarter. Phoenix trailed 24-20 after one. Scoring 20 points against this Bulls team in any quarter is unacceptable.
Grayson Allen knocked down a pair of threes early in the second quarter to kickstart the offense. The first chunk of the second quarter was just as frustrating as the first quarter was. The offense was stagnant. Iso ball. Turnovers. Lazy defense.
Chicago was in control, 41-32, while dictating the pace of the game at that point.
Devin Booker scored 7 straight points after he was frustrated with a no-call the previous play, but the Suns’ defense was not getting it done, so they didn’t cover any ground during that stretch.
The Bulls were playing loose, they were playing free, and having fun while pushing the ball up the floor nearly every possession.
Phoenix closed out the half strong and was fortunate to only be down by five after being down by as many as 11. Chicago led 55-50 at the break. Devin Booker paced the Suns with 16 points, followed by 14 from Grayson Allen. Collin Sexton led Chicago with 16 of his own.
Second Half
The third quarter looked like more of the same early on. Chicago made it clear they were not going down without a fight.
Oso Ighodaro started to find himself offensively a bit, as teammates were hitting him in stride on the way to the rim a few possessions in a row.
The defensive intensity picked up a bit for Phoenix, but unfortunately, the shots weren’t consistently falling, not to mention the turnover issues. Devin Booker was still getting to his spot, at the very least.
Collin Sexton was absolutely cooking Phoenix, pouring in 24 points well before the end of the third quarter.
Outside of Booker and Allen, the rest of the Suns’ shotmakers struggled to put the ball through the hoop. The Bulls had 58 points in the paint through the opening three quarters. They were relentless in attacking the rim all game long.
After three, Phoenix trailed 83-77.
Chicago opened the 4th on a 7-2 run to extend their lead to 11, leading to a Jordan Ott timeout. Chicago was leading by double digits with less than five minutes remaining. A Jalen Green transition slam, followed by a Grasyon Allen triple, made it a seven-point ballgame with 4:22 left in the game.
An Amir Coffey triple injected some caffeine (sorry) into the arena to cut it to four, 98-94. Coffey drilled another one to cut it to three with less than 40 seconds remaining to answer a Yabusele triple the prior possession.
A Devin Booker triple made it a one-point game after Chicago split a pair of free throws on the other end. It was 104-103 with 22.2 seconds left after a 16-4 Phoenix run.
Nick Richards missed a free-throw in a two-point game with just a few seconds left, then Tre Jones made a high IQ play after the rebound bounced his way by throwing it straight up in the air as the time expired.
Up Next
The Suns get the Pelicans at home tomorrow night for the second of a back-to-back.
ORLANDO, FL - MARCH 5: Cooper Flagg #32 of the Dallas Mavericks drives to the basket during the game against the Orlando Magic on March 5, 2026 at Kia Center in Orlando, Florida. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2026 NBAE (Photo by Fernando Medina/NBAE via Getty Images) | NBAE via Getty Images
The return of Cooper Flagg netted an all too familiar feeling for Mavericks fans; another clutch loss.
The Mavericks fought hard all night, but as usual were unable to execute in the clutch, leading to the Magic stealing an improbable win.
Without further ado… let’s grade the Mavericks
Cooper Flagg: A
18 PTS / 5 REB / 6 AST / 1 STL / 5 BLK -26 MIN
After what felt like an eternity, Cooper Flagg finally made his return to the lineup.
It’s wasn’t Flagg’s best shooting game, as his touch was clearly rusty, but he impacted the game in a multitude of ways. His defense was especially impressive, as his rim protection was felt all night, including an incredible sequence towards the end of the game.
His ability to effect the game in so many ways, on both ends, is what separates him in the rookie-of-the-year race, and makes his potential so tantalizing.
Khris Middleton: B
19 PTS / 2 REB / 7 AST / 0 STL / 0 BLK -32 MIN
Khris Middleton may be older than time itself, but he can still get buckets.
Middleton’s off-ball ability and scoring chops have proven to be very valuable for this team, and could be very valuable for next year.
Daniel Gafford: B
12 PTS / 13 REB / 1 AST / 0 STL / 2 BLK -25 MIN
While Daniel Gafford had a good statistical performance, he still had a very frustrating game.
This mainly boils down to his sheer lack of awareness defensively, as he often finds himself completely out-of-position, which included the game winning shot by Wendell Carter Jr.
Max Christie: C-
6 PTS / 3 REB / 3 AST / 0 STL / 0 BLK -28 MIN
Max Christie receives this grade simply because he was nearly invisible during the game, contributing nothing on either offense of defense.
P.J. Washington: B+
18 PTS / 5 REB / 1 AST / 2 STL / 1 BLK -33 MIN
P.J. Washington has had an incredibly frustrating season, but has begun to find his form in the last month.
While this won’t quell the trade rumors that are sure to follow him into the offseason, it is nice to see the old, uber-impactful version of Washington.
Klay Thompson: A+
24 PTS / 4 REB / 1 AST / 1 STL / 0 BLK -26 MIN
Klay Thompson may be washed in many aspects, he can still shoot the ball with the absolute best of them.
Thompson’s ability to make threes from any angle is so unique, and could be so valuable for next year’s Mavericks.
Naji Marshall: D-
6 PTS / 4 REB / 5 AST / 2 STL / 0 BLK -25 MIN
In a game that was decided by one point, Naji Marshall’s scoring was missed dearly, as he struggled to find any offense.
The one positive was his playmaking, as he racked up five assists.
MINNEAPOLIS, MINNESOTA - MARCH 05: Anthony Edwards #5 of the Minnesota Timberwolves celebrates his three-point basket against the Toronto Raptors in the first quarter at Target Center on March 05, 2026 in Minneapolis, Minnesota. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by David Berding/Getty Images) | Getty Images
There are games that you want to remember and ones you want to forget. There are games where everything goes perfectly, and games where everything goes terribly. There are also games like tonight, where seemingly all of those things happen all at once. Most nights, that would be a nightmare to watch and even worse to be on a recap for. Instead, tonight was fun.
It was not fun for Jaden McDaniels, who found himself in foul trouble for the entirety of this game, leading to what was likely the worst performance of his season. It was not fun for head coach Chris Finch, who perpetually looks miserable on the bench, whether it’s through ten point deficit or a 21-5 run.
21-5 Wolves run from 7:48 to 2:26 to turn a 1-point deficit into a 15-point lead
Started with consistently great Rudy defense + Donte hustle plays
Amplified by an Anthony Edwards poster
Taken to another level by a crowd pop for two straight loud Naz Reid buckets https://t.co/RYJRRwftih
Still, it was also really fun for most of the team. Donte DiVincenzo had three threes in the first half. Kyle Anderson is playing backup point guard. Anthony Edwards had that aforementioned crazy poster dunk.
Nights like this are the meat and potatoes of the NBA season. These are not headlining matchups. These are not appointment viewing. These are not even on primetime television; instead, boasting the “FanDuel sports network.” Instead, these are the games that we miss in August when the season is a distant memory.
There’s so much left to discuss, so many bits of minutia we can focus on. So, to that note, let’s get started—
Wait, I’m being told I failed to mention something here.
Here’s what you guys missed from this game.
ANTHONY EDWARDS REALMENTE ACABOU COM A CARREIRA DO RJ BARRETT
Alright. With all our Ts crossed and Is dotted, let’s get down to business.
The Kyle Anderson Experience
Slo Mo finished tonight’s game with four points, four assists, and three rebounds in only 15 minutes. Even with the deadline’s other acquisitions all being point guards, it’s been Anderson who is taking the bulk of the bench playmaking role.
When people spoke about how the Wolves needed to improve, so many of the questions came down to backcourt depth. Conversations largely focused on finding a point guard to fix both playmaking and ball-handling deficiencies. Instead, Minnesota has found a bit of a platoon approach.
Anderson’s role also holds some playoff promise. The rotation has now expanded out to nine players. While it’s probably less than ideal long term that both TJ Shannon have been relegated to garbage time, Kyle offers the type of backup 3/4 minutes that Shannon ideally would have provided.
A frequently threadbare bench has now become a bit of a strength, with both the depth and specialists that mean that Finch can go from a seven-man rotation to a nine-man one and back again if needed.
Which brings us to our next topic…
Bench Mobbing
Remember when the Wolves relied on Naz Reid as the only capable player outside of the top five starters? Remember when Mike Conley would come in and immediately get blown by, only for Chris Finch to tell non-believers that there were just no other options up and down the roster (Rob Dillingham believers did NOT like that idea)? Remember when Bones Hyland needed to be relied upon, even on nights when his shot wasn’t falling?
Well, these are not those Wolves of yesteryear. Between the additions of Ayo Dosumnu and Kyle Anderson, and the continued value of shock impact player Hyland and Sixth Man of the Year favorite Naz Reid, this bench unit is shockingly capable.
Nowhere was that more obvious than in the scoring column tonight. Six players finished in double digits. That was with McDaniels missing out by one bucket because of foul trouble.
There is no reason that can’t continue.
Most importantly, there’s no reason why that isn’t translatable to a playoff environment. This era of Wolves basketball is defined by an overperformance of unexpected players. Realistically speaking, it is Bones Hyland who will find himself out of the rotation in May. However, that doesn’t mean his role of offensive sparkplug will cease to matter.
To that end, this team makes sense in a way that I can buy into. That has to count for something.
Kyle Anderson and Ayo Dosunmu pretty much help with all of Minnesota’s weaknesses. Incredible
With just about two months left in the regular season, the Wolves now sit at third in the West, a full game ahead of the fourth-seeded Rockets. They are a full five games back from the Thunder and Spurs pack of it all, but a few months ago, the idea of escaping the play-in felt far away and unlikely.
There is no team that these Wolves can’t beat. They will once again be a popular dark horse for the title. But the good news is that no one is playing better than them. The same thing happened last year. And the year before.
Maybe the Anthony Edwards era will be defined by late-season runs that extend deep into the playoffs. There are far worse things to be known for than that. Even better, maybe sometime soon, those flameouts will become Finals appearances. And maybe, just maybe, those appearances become victories.
While Edwards is unquestionably the motor and frame of the car that is the Timberwolves, there is more to this vehicle than there was earlier. It’s not a carry job. It is an F1 construction finding stability through its well-tested and well-engineered parts, each functioning as needed.
Goodnight Wolves fans. Dream of Max Verstappen, or Dale Earnhardt, or Lightning McQueen. The race starts in 60 days. The car is hitting top form. The drivers are raring to go.
Time to get to work.
Up Next
The Timberwolves will go for six in a row on Saturday afternoon against the Orlando Magic. The game begins at 2:00 PM CT, airing on Amazon Prime Video.
HOUSTON, TX - MARCH 5: Brandin Podziemski #2 of the Golden State Warriors drives to the basket during the game against the Houston Rockets on March 5, 2026 at the Toyota Center in Houston, Texas. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2026 NBAE (Photo by Logan Riely/NBAE via Getty Images) | NBAE via Getty Images
You can criticize the 2025-26 Golden State Warriors for a lot of things, but lack of heart is not one of them.
Missing Steph Curry, Moses Moody, Kristaps Porzingis and Gary Payton II, the Warriors rode an incredible team effort on defense to a 115-113 overtime win against the Houston Rockets. Draymond Green locked down Kevin Durant late and then the NBA’s burner account king missed two clutch free throws and accidentally made another in OT.
Brandin Podziemski led the Warriors with 26 points and nine rebounds, but the shorthanded Warriors got contributions all the way down the roster. DeAnthony Melton scored 23 points, blocked two shots and got three steals. Green led the team with eight assists, scored 10 points and turned the ball over only once.
Al Horford scored 17, drained three threes and got a huge hustle block on Alperen Sengun in overtime. And Gui Santos had 14 points, six rebounds, and six assists and was +20 in 42 minutes, a remarkable accomplishment for a two-point victory. He also delivered what turned out to be only the second-most embarrassing moment of the game for Durant.
Golden State looked like they’d taken control of the game late in overtime when Podziemski hit a three and a driving layup on consecutive possessions, thanks to some powerful screens from Green.
The Warriors’ timely help defense on Durant forced a miss and they had the ball and a five-point lead with 1:20 to go.
It fell apart quickly. All-Defensive guard Amen Thompson stole the ball and got fouled. He split his free throws, but the Rockets got an offensive rebound and whipped the ball around to Durant, who canned a three to cut the lead to one. But the resilient Warriors went to the veteran Horford, who posted up Thompson, 16 years younger then him, and hit a bucket.
Durant drew a three-shot foul on Melton, and it looked like the game would be tied. After all, Durant had made 34 consecutive free throws. That streak would end at 36.
He missed the third freebie, then the Warriors got two offensive rebounds on their next possession before Melton scored for another three-point lead.
DE'ANTHONY MELTON SEALS IT FOR THE WARRIORS IN OT!
It’s a testament to the tenacity of the Warriors that they got the most important offensive rebound against the Houston Rockets. Up three, Green fouled Durant, who missed another free throw. Needing to miss and get an offensive rebound, KD accidentally made his final free throw.
To add insult to injury, the game ended after the Rockets let all but 0.1 seconds run off the clock before fouling, and Green threw the ball off Durant to end it. X.com user “getoffmydickerson” will surely have a lot to say about that later.
Steve Kerr has plenty of critics among Warriors fans and people writing this very recap, but Thursday’s game was another example of why he remains one of the NBA’s best-ever coaches. Somehow, the Warriors have a top-12 defense this season, and they handled everyone but Reed Sheppard (30 points, six threes) and forced 17 turnovers.
Out of a timeout just under four minutes, Kerr drew up a sweet out-of-bounds play for Green, who got an and-one off a dime from Brandin Podziemski.
Of course, the real secret to a killer defense is having Draymond Green. He did a great job of denying his old teammate the ball, but Sengun kept making tough shots to keep the Rockets in it. But, the Warriors won the mathematics battle, because three is more than two. De’Anthony Melton hit a three and then Al Horford nailed a huge triple off a broken play and a heads-up pass from Green.
At the end of regulation, Durant blocked Melton, a play originally called a foul and reversed, because this is what happens late in Rockets-Warriors games. The ageless Horford won the subsequent jump ball, but Thompson blew up the Warriors’ inbounds play to send the game to OT.
LJ Cryer had a strong performance back in the city of his college basketball glory. In his first game since Jan. 25, Cryer scored 12 points, guarded Reed Sheppard in big moments, sank four three-pointers and provided 20 crucial minutes for a Warriors team light on guards.
But the star was Podziemski. Eight days after his 23rd birthday, Podziemski took command of the offense late in games, grabbed five offensive rebounds and went 4-for-8 from behind the arc. For a player who seems to constantly draw the ire of the Warriors fanbase, Podziemski continues to do a lot of good things for his team, even while being clotheslined by Rockets defenders and being constantly whipped in the face by his beautiful, wild hair.
Golden State moves to 32-30 and 1.5 games ahead of the 9th-place Los Angeles Clippers. They’ll play the San Antonio Spurs Friday while the Warriors play the Oklahoma City Thunder Saturday, so let’s just assume they’ll be 32-31 1.5 games ahead on Sunday.
Except, after Thursday, you just never know with this team and their new adopted Splash Cousin LJ Cryer. There will be time enough to bemoan Kerr’s coaching decisions and the insane roster choices later. This is the time to savor the most satisfying Warriors win of the season.
