Warriors stomp Spurs in clash of NBA heavyweights

OAKLAND, Calif. — The Golden State Warriors recorded a knockout in Round 1 of their battle with the San Antonio Spurs for Western Conference regular-season superiority Monday night, riding Stephen Curry’s 37 points to a 120-90 victory in the highly anticipated showdown.

The reigning NBA Most Valuable Player bombed in five 3-pointers as the Warriors (41-4) shot 11-for-26 from beyond the arc in the first meeting of the top two teams in the West this season.

Golden State’s 39th consecutive home victory — their 21st this season — gave it a three-game lead over San Antonio (38-7) in their duel for top seeding in the Western playoffs.

The loss snapped a 13-game winning streak for the Spurs, who had an 18.0-point average margin of victory during that run. They played without star power forward Tim Duncan, who was resting an ailing right knee.

Curry, who hit 12 of his 20 shots overall, also had four assists and five steals in 29 minutes for the Warriors, whose last home loss (Nov. 11, 2014) came at the hands of the Spurs.

In fact, San Antonio had prevailed in 23 of its previous 26 visits to Oakland before falling behind by seven in the fifth minute of the game and by as many as 19 in the second period.

Curry set the tone early, connecting on three 3-pointers in a 15-point first period during which the Spurs fell behind despite playing their most competitive ball of the night.

But when backup guard Shaun Livingston got into the act with five consecutive hoops in the second period, including dunks off assists from Curry, power forward Draymond Green and fellow reserve Andre Iguodala, the game got away from the Spurs for good.

Curry crushed the Spurs with three more 3-pointers in the third period, during which the Warriors ran up a 95-66 lead to set the stage for an inconsequential final 12 minutes.

Curry added 18 points to his total in the quarter while nearly outscoring San Antonio (19) single-handedly.

Livingston totaled 13 points for the Warriors, who won their fourth straight game. Fellow backups Brandon Rush and Marreese Speights also finished with 13 points.

Green had 11 points, nine rebounds and six assists in 27 minutes, and shooting guard Klay Thompson was a sixth Warrior in double figures with 11 points.

The Warriors shot 51.8 percent from the field, compared to San Antonio’s 41.9 percent.

Small forward Kawhi Leonard hit seven consecutive free throws in a 16-point outing for the Spurs, whose six previous losses had come by a total of just 33 points.

Power forward David West, starting in place of Duncan, made six of his eight shots on a 12-point night for San Antonio, which won the season series 2-1 over the champion Warriors last year.

Backup center Boban Marjanovic dropped in 12 points in 13 minutes.

The Spurs’ starting backcourt of Tony Parker (five points) and Danny Green (three) was outscored 45-8 by Warriors counterparts Curry and Thompson.

NOTES: Asked to describe his anxiety level before the game, Spurs coach Gregg Popovich admitted, “I’ve got butterflies in my gut. I don’t feel like that every night.” … The matchup of 40-4 and 38-6 clubs had the highest combined winning percentage (.886) in NBA history for a showdown at least 40 games into the season. The previous mark of .871 had been set on Jan. 9, 1972, when the Milwaukee Bucks (35-8) ended the 33-game winning streak of the Los Angeles Lakers (39-3). … The game pitted the league’s top offense (Golden State, 114.7 points per game) against the league’s top defense (San Antonio, 89.8). … Warriors coach Steve Kerr was teammates with Spurs PF Tim Duncan (four years), PG Tony Parker (one year) and SG Manu Ginobili (one year) during his four seasons playing for Popovich in San Antonio. … When asked how the Spurs have improved defensively this season, Kerr observed, “The biggest change is Tony Parker. He just looks healthier and more active defensively.”

source: interaksyon.com

Rockets fend off elimination with Game 5 rout of Clippers

HOUSTON — Guard James Harden and center Dwight Howard delivered under the most dire circumstances for the Houston Rockets, who averted elimination with a 124-103 win over the Los Angeles Clippers in Game 5 of the Western Conference semifinals Tuesday night at Toyota Center.

Harden posted 26 points, 11 rebounds and 10 assists, while Howard added 20 points and 15 rebounds as the Rockets forced a return trip to Los Angeles for Game 6 on Thursday night at Staples Center by thriving in the paint and playing with defensive vigor.

Los Angeles still leads the best-of-seven series three games to two. If the Rockets can even the series Thursday, Game 7 would be Sunday back in Houston.

The Rockets matched their Game 3 total for points in the paint (36) by halftime and finished with 64. Houston took full advantage of the foul difficulties plaguing Clippers center DeAndre Jordan, who had three by the break while logging just nine first-half minutes.

Jordan finished with 13 points and 11 rebounds but was largely neutralized as a rim protector. Forward Blake Griffin paced the Clippers with 30 points and 16 rebounds, while guard Chris Paul added 22 points and 10 assists. The guard trio of J.J. Redick, Jamal Crawford and Austin Rivers, instrumental in two blowout wins in Los Angeles, shot a combined 8-for-33.

Rockets coach Kevin McHale tweaked his lineup, starting forward Josh Smith in place of Terrence Jones. Smith finished with nine points, seven rebounds and four assists, while Jones added 12 points and five boards.

Houston forward Trevor Ariza paired 22 points with eight assists.

The Rockets closed the first half with an 18-5 surge, limiting the Clippers to just one basket over the final three-plus minutes of the second quarter. Guard Jason Terry drilled a pair of 3-pointers during that run, and Harden scored six points, hitting a shot with 0.3 seconds left in the half for a 63-48 advantage.

The Rockets led by as many as 22 points in the third quarter before Griffin paced a Clippers rally with nine points during a surge that cut the deficit to 83-70. The Houston bench prevented any further slippage in the fourth quarter, and Los Angeles failed the mount a serious late run.

NOTES: Clippers coach Doc Rivers was surprised by the news that the New Orleans Pelicans fired coach Monty Williams after Williams guided them through a series of debilitating injuries and into the postseason for the second time in his five seasons. “That was a shocker to me,” said Rivers of the dismissal of Williams, who played for Rivers in Orlando (1999-2002). “I was surprised (because of) all the injuries they had.” … Clippers F Glen Davis continues to be slowed by the left ankle sprain he sustained in the opening playoff round against the San Antonio Spurs. Davis played just six minutes Tuesday after appearing for 15 minutes total during Games 3 and 4.

source: interaksyon.com

Amid Durant vs LeBron hype, Thunder cruise to easy victory over Heat

MIAMI — The individual matchup between the NBA’s top two candidates for MVP did not disappoint.

But the battle between the reigning two-time NBA champion Miami Heat and the top team in the Western Conference, the Oklahoma City Thunder, turned out to be a bit of a dud, especially in the final 42 minutes.

The Thunder overcame an 18-point first-quarter deficit to drill the Heat 112-95 on Wednesday night at AmericanAirlines Arena.

Over those final 42 minutes, the Thunder outscored the Heat 108-73.

“There’s no running away from it,” Heat coach Erik Spoelstra said. “Other than the first (six) minutes of the game, they outclassed us.

“Our guys were up and ready for this game. (The Thunder) were up and ready, and they played better than us.”

In the matchup of superstars, Heat forward LeBron James, a four-time league MVP, had 34 points on 12-of-20 shooting. But he did not play his usual stellar floor game — just three rebounds, three assists and three turnovers. He was 9 of 9 on the foul line but just 1 of 5 on 3-pointers.

Oklahoma City forward Kevin Durant, a three-time NBA scoring champ, had 33 points, seven rebounds and five assists with four turnovers. He was 5 of 5 from the foul line and 4 of 9 on 3-pointers.

“We were down 22-4, and we could have easily folded up, especially on the road,” Durant said. “It could be my last game any time I step on the floor, so I have to give it my all.”

Durant enjoyed his 12th consecutive game with 30 or more points. His streak is the third longest in the NBA in the past 30 years, trailing only runs by Kobe Bryant (16) and Tracy McGrady (14).

“(James and Durant) are going to go down as two of the greatest players ever to play the game,” Thunder coach Scott Brooks said. “Defensively, they are solid. Offensively, they are amazing.

“They were challenging each other. It would’ve been fun to clear the court and watch them play one on one. But the thing I love is that they are both team guys.”

Forward Serge Ibaka scored 22 points to help Oklahoma City (37-10) extend its winning streak to nine games. The Thunder also got major contributions from reserve guards Jeremy Lamb (18 points) and Derek Fisher (15 points). Fisher made all five of his 3-point attempts.

“Our effort was great — it was a good team win,” Brooks said. “I thought Fisher did a great job inspiring us when we got down. He made a couple of big threes, and everyone chipped in.”

Miami (32-13) lost at home for just the fourth time in 23 games this season. Forward Chris Bosh added 18 points for the Heat, guard Dwyane Wade scored 15.

Oklahoma City won the game largely due to 3-point shooting. The Thunder made 16 of 27 from beyond the arc (59.3 percent), while the Heat made just 3 of 19 (15.8 percent).

After the Heat got off to their hot start, the Thunder got back in the game with a 12-0 run.

By the end of the first, the Heat led 30-21. Bosh had 11 of Miami’s first 22 points, and the Heat outshot the Thunder 55 percent to 36 percent in the period.

The Thunder won the second quarter 34-20 and led 55-50 at halftime. The Thunder outshot the Heat 52 percent to 42 percent in the quarter. Bosh cooled off in the second quarter — only one point — and Lamb heated up with 13 points.

“(The Heat) doubled off the pick and roll,” Lamb said. “We swung the ball to find the open shots.”

At the half, Durant (16 points) and James (15) virtually negated each other.

The Thunder outscored the Heat 36-25 in the third quarter and headed into the fourth leading 91-75. Fisher closed the quarter by banking in a 3-pointer at the buzzer. It was the second 3-pointer Fisher made off the glass in the game.

The Durant vs. James duel heated up in the third quarter as each scored 12 points. Durant made 4 of 7 shots, including two 3-pointers, and James made 5 of 7.

“He made some great shots,” Spoelstra said of Durant. “Those are the shots that everyone will remember. From our standpoint, we will remember some of the close-outs we didn’t make to give Lamb and Fisher some open threes.”

NOTES: After Sunday’s game against the San Antonio Spurs in which he came off the bench for the first time in eight years, Heat G Dwyane Wade returned to the starting lineup Wednesday. Wade was used as a reserve Sunday because he missed four games due to knee soreness and wanted to work his way back into fitness. … Since the Thunder clinched the best record in the West by the Feb. 2 cut-off date, Scott Brooks will coach the conference’s team at the All-Star Game. He also coached the West in 2012. … Thunder F Kevin Durant was averaging 28.2 points when G Russell Westbrook was healthy. In the first 17 games since Westbrook got hurt, Durant averaged 36.5 points. His shot total went up from 18 to 22 per game. … Next up for the Heat is a Saturday night game at the New York Knicks, where the teams will be part of the pre-Super Bowl hoopla. … The Thunder will also be in New York this weekend, playing the Brooklyn Nets on Friday.

source: interaksyon.com