WARRIORS, LAKERS AIM TO CLOSE OUT AT HOME
Time and again, Stephen Curry called for his Golden State Warriors to be better, to learn from the glaring mistakes and road losses that piled up in frustrating fashion and with little explanation as to why.
Through all the distractions and challenges of a topsy-turvy regular season and, yes, all those road losses, Curry and the defending NBA champions find themselves in a familiar place as May approaches: looking to close out a playoff series at home.
If they do, there’s a possibility of LeBron James and the Lakers would be up next in an all-California Western Conference semifinal.
“We’ve played in the most pressurized moments, whether it’s the finals or the first round, so we just rely on our experience during nights like this,” Klay Thompson said after Game 5.
The Warriors are whole at last, too. Andrew Wiggins is back after a two-month absence for a personal matter. Gary Payton II is coming off the bench again as a defensive stopper just like he did last year after beginning this season with the Trail Blazers. Jordan Poole is finding his postseason groove and Kevon Looney keeps securing rebounds at an outrageous rate on both ends after coming up big on the playoff stage in 2022.
Coach Steve Kerr has said all along that no playoff series truly begins until a team wins on the opponent’s home court, and Golden State pulled off a 123-116 victory against the Sacramento Kings at Golden 1 Center on Wednesday night — giving the Warriors at least one road win in a record 28 straight playoff series.
Curry hopes they build on this.
“Big night for us and you can feel the sense of accomplishment after the game from everybody on the bench, everybody on the floor,” Curry said. “Just of how good of a feeling it was. So, now obviously, we’ve got work to do to close out the series, but we needed this one. Snatch momentum back and hopefully take advantage of it in Game 6.”
To the south of the Bay Area, the Lakers will try again to close out the Grizzlies in Los Angeles, where Memphis hasn’t won this season. The Grizzlies are 2-1 in Game 6s on the road and trying to force just the third Game 7 in franchise history. This franchise has won just four games facing elimination in 13 playoff appearances ever.
“Tonight, I was (expletive), I’ll be better in Game 6,” James said following his 5-for-17 performance that included going 1 of 9 on 3-pointers for 15 points in Wednesday’s 116-99 loss.
If the Warriors and Lakers each win tonight, Los Angeles will go to the Bay Area for Game 1 of the next round — but the Kings are counting on one more chance to Light the Beam at Golden 1 Center.
“We’ve been in this situation all year,” Sacramento’s Malik Monk said Thursday. “Lose a couple, they think we’re down then come back and win a couple in a row, so just another task in front of us.”
Thursday’s result
Celtics 128, Hawks 120: Al Horford hit a huge 3-pointer against his former team and visiting Boston broke open a tight game in the closing minutes to finish off Atlanta for a 4-2 victory in the opening-round playoff series.
The second-seeded Celtics advance to face the thirdseeded 76ers, who’ve been resting since completing their four-game sweep of Brooklyn last Saturday.
Game 1 is Monday night in Boston.
Boston ripped off an 11-0 run that included three straight 3-pointers, with Horford’s big shot sandwiched around 3s from Jayson Tatum and Jaylen Brown.
Tatum capped the spurt with a dunk, which gave the Celtics a 121-113 lead with 2:07 remaining.
Brown led the Celtics with 32 points, while Tatum had 30. Horford, who played in Atlanta from 2007-16, chipped in with 10 points and 12 rebounds.
After carrying the Hawks to an improbable victory in Game 5 at Boston, Atlanta’s Trae Young ran out of steam in the second half. He missed 12 of 13 shots over the final two quarters. Young had 30 points and 10 assists, but he finished just 9 of 28 from the field.
Wednesday’s late result
Heat 128, Bucks 126 (OT): Jimmy Butler scored 42 points and visiting Miami staged a second straight stunning fourth-quarter rally before winning in overtime in Game 5 to complete an upset of the top-seeded Bucks in their Eastern Conference first-round playoff series.
Notable
The 76ers still aren’t saying if Joel Embiid will be able to return from a sprained right knee and play next week in Game 1 of the Eastern Conference semifinals.