Golden State storms Spurs
Klay Thompson scored 27 points, Kevin Durant had 24 and the Golden State Warriors overcame a lethargic first half to beat the injuryriddled Spurs, 112-92, last night in San Antonio.
Steph Curry added 21 points for Golden State in its first meeting against the Spurs since sweeping the Western Conference finals en route to the NBA title.
The Spurs played without Kawhi Leonard and Tony Parker, as they did in the conference finals. Unlike those blowout victories, Golden State struggled to close out San Antonio.
Spurs forward LaMarcus Aldridge had 24 points and 10 rebounds, continuing his resurgent season. Kyle Anderson added 16 points in place of Leonard, whose return from an injured right quadriceps is still undetermined.
The Warriors took their first lead two minutes into the third quarter at 60-57 on Durant’s 3-pointer.
Spurs coach Gregg Popovich was ejected with 4:47 remaining in the game after complaining that traveling was not called on Patrick McCaw minutes after Aldridge was assessed a traveling violation.
Trail Blazers 113, Lakers 110 — Damian Lillard made a 3-pointer with 0.7 seconds left and host Portland Blazers extended its winning streak over Los Angeles to 13 games.
Lillard finished with 32 points, and Portland snapped a two-game skid. Jusuf Nurkic added 28 points.
Brook Lopez had 27 points and rookie Kyle Kuzma added a season-high 22 for the Lakers, who were shorthanded after Larry Nance Jr. injured his left hand in the second half. Fellow rookie Lonzo Ball was 0-for-2 from the field with no points, four assists and three rebounds.
There were a few fans in the crowd wearing Ball’s No. 2 jersey for his first appearance in Portland.
Elsewhere in the NBA — Cavaliers forward Tristan Thompson could be out a month with a strained left calf.
One of Cleveland’s most dependable players over the past few years, Thompson was injured in the second quarter Wednesday night in a loss to the Indiana Pacers. Thompson, who has been moved out and in of the starting lineup by coach Tyronn Lue, left Quicken Loans Arena using crutches. The team said an MRI confirmed the strain and that he’ll need as much as four weeks to recover before he plays again. …
The NBA says it will hold its draft lottery in Chicago next spring.
The league announced the event will be held outside of New York or New Jersey for the first time on May 15.