Warriors power past LA Lakers
Los Angeles, Feb. 13: Klay Thompson scored 16 of his season high 33 points in the final quarter and LeBron James missed a key free throw in the closing seconds as the Golden State Warriors edged the Los Angeles Lakers 117-115 on Saturday.
Thompson hit a trio of late three pointers as the veteran finished five of nine from beyond the arc for the Warriors, who snapped a two-game losing skid.
“That was fun,” said Thompson, who was playing in just his 14th game back after missing over two years thanks to serious injuries.
“No matter how many I miss I always feel confident I will make the next one.”
Thompson said he was proud of his intensive rehab, which allowed him to play at a high level again.
“I am not good at watching. I have to keep working,” he said. “It was hard. There were a lot of days in the squat rack. This makes it all worth it.”
James failed to take advantage of three free throws late that would have tied the game and set the stage for overtime.
Behind 117-114, James — who missed two of six free throws earlier — was fouled and went to the free throw line with two seconds left.
He missed the first of his three shots but made the second, before intentionally hitting the rim on the third — however the Warriors got a piece of the rebound and swatted it out of harms way.
Elsewhere, Anfernee Simons drained a clutch go-ahead three pointer with just over three minutes left, as the Portland Trail Blazers roared back from a 23-point deficit to beat the New York Knicks 112-103.
76ERS EASE PAST
CAVALIERS
In Philadelphia, Joel Embiid had 40 points, 14 rebounds, 10 assists and three steals to lift the host Philadelphia 76ers over the Cleveland Cavaliers 103-93 on Saturday.
Bam Adebayo scored 19 points and grabbed 14 rebounds as the host Miami Heat sent the Brooklyn Nets to their 11th straight loss with a 115-111 victory on Saturday night.
The Nets’ part-time player Kyrie Irving scored 18 straight team points in the fourth quarter as the Nets cut a 21-point deficit to just one on a three-pointer by rookie Cam Thomas with 38 seconds left.
Irving had just four points at half-time. —