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Thursday, March 28, 2024

Warriors a win shy of Bulls’ record

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LOS ANGELES—The Golden State Warriors kept their bid for an historic 73 NBA regular-season victories in 2015-16 alive on Saturday with a dramatic 100-99 triumph over the Grizzlies in Memphis.

The reigning NBA champion Warriors trailed the injury-depleted Grizzlies, who had lost 11 of their last 14 games, by 10 points midway through the fourth quarter.

But Golden State turned up the heat to improve to 71-9.

Draymond Green of the Golden State Warriors takes a shot against PJ Hairston of the Memphis Grizzlies during the second half of their teams’ game at the FedExForum in Memphis, Tennessee.  AFP

They are just the second team in NBA history to notch 70 wins in a regular season, along with the 1995-96 Chicago Bulls.

They must win their last two games of the season to surpass that Michael Jordan-led Bulls’ team’s record 72 triumphs.

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They face a big hurdle in their penultimate game on Sunday, when they visit the San Antonio Spurs.

The Spurs are a perfect 39-0 on their home floor and trying to become the first team to go unbeaten at home in a single season.

Warriors coach Steve Kerr — who played on that 1995-96 Bulls team — said the record isn’t his foremost concern.

“I just want to be fresh and ready for the playoffs,” Kerr said.

The pursuit of the record had become almost controversial in the wake of the Warriors’ shock loss to the lowly Minnesota Timberwolves on Tuesday, which came days after a home loss to the playoff-bound Boston Celtics.

Pundits immediately pounced, speculating the chase for the record had left the Warriors physically and emotionally fatigued just when they needed to be prepping for the post-season and the nitty-gritty of their title defense.

“These things are tricky,” Kerr acknowledged. “You’re not sure what you’re trying to accomplish.

“The record is out there,” Kerr added. “It’s important to a lot of people.”

That includes Golden State’s Draymond Green, whose 23 points included the game-winning tip-in with a minute remaining.

Green also pulled down 11 rebounds.

NBA Most Valuable Player Stephen Curry and Klay Thompson both struggled from long range, combining for five three-pointers on 24 attempts.

Thompson finished with 20 points and Curry added 17. Curry didn’t make his first three-pointer until the third quarter after missing his first five attempts.

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