What we discovered as Warriors beat Jazz to safe No. 10 seed initially appeared on NBC Sports activities Bay Space
SAN FRANCISCO – And with that, the 2023-24 NBA common season has come to a detailed and the postseason begins.
The Warriors, and not using a resting Steph Curry and Draymond Inexperienced, held off the Utah Jazz for a 123-116 win Sunday at Chase Middle. The win gave the Warriors a 46-36 file to finish the common season.
The Warriors’ win, in addition to the Sacramento Kings and Los Angeles Lakers’ victories Sunday, locks Golden State into the No. 10 seed, establishing a win-or-go-home Western Convention Play-In Match matchup between the Warriors and Kings at 7 p.m. PT on Tuesday evening at Golden 1 Middle.
Golden State went 1-3 in 4 video games the place each Curry and Inexperienced didn’t play this season.
Klay Thompson scored a team-high 25 factors in two-plus quarters on 7-of-13 capturing general and was 6 of 12 from 3-point vary. Andrew Wiggins added 19 factors on 6-of-11 capturing in restricted minutes, and a handful of different Warriors supplied factors as properly.
Jonathan Kuminga, who was questionable to start the day and has handled a handful of bumps and bruises just lately, was held scoreless on 4 pictures however set a career-high with seven assists.
Listed here are three takeaways from the Warriors’ regular-season finale.
Klay’s Massive Day
At any time when the Warriors are with out Curry, anyone has to step up on offense. Thompson took that problem head-on and located his rhythm to tie a bow on the common season. What helped him early was the free-throw line.
Thompson solely made one in every of his 4 3-point makes an attempt within the first quarter, however hit all 5 of his free throws. The second quarter is when Thompson started heating up, going 3 of 4 from deep, giving him 19 factors going into halftime. He then made two extra threes within the first four-plus minutes of the third quarter earlier than popping out for good on the 7:34 mark.
In a season stuffed with ups and downs, Thompson actually ended on a excessive word. Sunday was the third time previously 4 video games that Thompson scored 25 factors or extra. His 25 factors places his season common at 17.9 factors per sport on 43.2-percent capturing and 38.7-percent behind the 3-point line.
Thompson averaged 17.0 factors towards the Kings this season, however made solely 5 of his 14 shot makes an attempt the final time these two groups performed one another.
Golden Alternative
The Warriors’ path ahead grew to become fairly clear by halftime. The Kings led the Portland Path Blazers by 28 factors and the Los Angeles Lakers held a 17-point lead on the New Orleans Pelicans. Kerr nonetheless trotted out his beginning lineup to start out the second half, however gamers like Lester Quinones and Pat Spencer additionally noticed the ground within the third quarter.
Quinones scored 12 factors in 17 minutes, and Spencer scored two factors in quarter-hour. Gui Santos added 13 factors in 24 minutes off the bench. Dario Saric’s 12 factors in reserve had been his most since Jan. 25.
Usman Garuba, whose two-way contract was transformed into a regular NBA deal Sunday, performed 5 minutes. Garuba grabbed 4 rebounds and scored one level on the free-throw line.
What’s Subsequent?
Simply one other date up the street in Sacramento for the second straight season. The Warriors will play their Northern California rival Kings on the street Tuesday evening, one 12 months after beating the Kings within the first spherical of the playoffs. The cowbells will come out and the surroundings will check sound obstacles.
The Warriors and Kings cut up their four-game regular-season collection. Golden State received the higher of Sacramento the primary two occasions, the second and fifth sport of the season, however the Kings got here out on prime the subsequent two occasions – on Nov. 28 and Jan. 25. Each these video games had been determined by one level.
The Kings, nonetheless, shall be with out two key sharpshooters Tuesday evening.
Malik Monk sustained a sprained MCL on March 29, and was deemed out four-to-six weeks following the damage. Kevin Huerter will miss the rest of the season after present process left shoulder surgical procedure in late March. Monk averaged 19.0 factors towards the Warriors in final 12 months’s playoffs, and Huerter averaged 16.5 factors, 9.5 rebounds and 4.5 assists within the Kings’ two wins towards the Warriors this season.
These two groups know the blueprint of beating each other and now have one final battle to both prolong their season or watch it come to an finish. The winner will play the loser of the Lakers vs. Pelicans play-in sport. Both method, the Warriors’ path to the playoffs shall be on the street, which has been a second dwelling for them all through the season.
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