San Diego Union-Tribune (Sunday)
THOMPSON GETS INTO GROOVE
Klay Thompson has been waiting for his shot to start falling consistently, and he certainly found a groove for host Golden State against defending champion Milwaukee.
Warriors 122, Bucks 109
He didn’t force it, and plans to build on this as he keeps learning during his comeback season. Grinning, he said he wanted to score 40 points, it just sounds better, but 38 was great.
Thompson’s total was a season best and he raised his right arm in triumph to ignite the home crowd while leading the Warriors past the Bucks, 122-109 on Saturday night.
“I was eager for a night like this,” Thompson said, “but a mid-season shooting slump it’s not going to kill my ego, I’m still going to go out there and compete.”
Thompson shot 15 for 24 with eight 3-pointers had his second 30-point performance since returning Jan. 9 from a 21⁄2-year absence following knee and Achilles surgeries.
“I’m sure it’s a relief,” coach Steve Kerr said. “He’s so hard on himself and wants so badly to succeed.”
Milwaukee native Jordan Poole returned to Golden State’s starting lineup and scored 30 points with five 3pointers to go with six rebounds and five assists.
Giannis Antetokounmpo had 31 points and eight rebounds, but the Warriors’ defense held the rest of the Bucks down. Milwaukee had won six a row.
This was a bad night for Milwaukee on the injury front.
New forward Deandre’ Bembry, only signed last month when the Nets waived him, injured his right knee and was helped to the locker room with 2:31 left in the third quarter. He went down hard along the sideline leaping to defend Poole’s 3point attempt.
Bembry was getting an MRI exam.
“We just need to wait and see what that looks like,” coach Mike Budenholzer said. “It felt like tonight was one of those nights where Klay was going to make some shots that were tough, that were well-defended. His offense and his shooting were just better than what we could defend. Credit to him. He had a great night.”
Bulls 101, Cavaliers 91: Demar Derozan scored 25 points, Nikola Vucevic added 20 points and 14 rebounds, and host Chicago beat Cleveland.
Ayo Dosunmu made three 3-pointers and finished with 17 points for the Bulls, who came away with their second straight win after losing five in a row even though they were missing Zach Lavine. The two-time All-star was sidelined because of lingering soreness in his left knee.
Darius Garland led Cleveland with 25 points.
Pacers 119, Spurs 108: Tyrese Haliburton had 19 points and 10 assists and visiting Indiana snapped a three-game skid, beating San Antonio.
San Antonio opted to sit Dejounte Murray, Keldon Johnson, and Jakob Poeltl one night after coach Gregg Popovich became the winningest coach in NBA history.
Timberwolves 113, Heat 104: Jaylen Nowell scored 16 points, Karl-anthony Towns and Anthony Edwards each added 15 and visiting Minnesota beat Miami for its seventh win in the last eight games.
Tyler Herro scored 30 points for the Eastern Conference-leading Heat. They had 37 points in the second half after scoring 42 in the second quarter. Miami has lost two of three.
Jazz 134, Kings 125: Jordan Clarkson scored a career-high 45 points to overcome the absence of Rudy Gobert and Mike Conley and help host Utah beat Sacramento.
Clarkson set a franchise record for points as a reserve with the first 40-point game for the Jazz since he had 41 last season on May 10 against Golden State. He has four games with more than 40 points off the bench.
Raptors 127, Nuggets 115: Pascal Siakam scored 33 points, Scottie Barnes had 25 and visiting Toronto pulled away late to beat Denver for its third straight win.
Nikola Jokic had 26 points and 10 rebounds to lead the Nuggets. Bones Hyland added 17 points, and Will Barton had 16 in his return from an ankle injury.
Trail Blazers 127, Wizards 118: Josh Hart scored 44 points to lead host Portland past Washington.
Kentavious Caldwellpope scored 26 and Kyle Kuzma had 22 for the Wizards.